Woman killed on MSC Seascape cruise ship remembered as devoted mother of three
Susan Watford was found dead aboard the MSC Seascape after it departed Galveston. Her husband Jason Watford, 48, has been charged with federal murder.
Husband charged with murder after wife found dead on Galveston cruise ship
Susan Watford, found dead aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship shortly after it departed from Galveston port on Monday, is being remembered by her family as a devoted mother who overcame a difficult upbringing. ABC13.com reports that a family member spoke to ABC News to share memories of the woman identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the victim in the case.
Her husband, 48-year-old Jason Watford, has been named by authorities as the suspect. He was arrested on Monday and appeared before a Galveston federal court on Tuesday, where he now faces a federal murder charge in connection with his wife's death.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Texas Galveston Division, Jason Watford told investigators that he and Susan had an argument at a restaurant on Sunday evening. The couple then returned to their cabin, where the dispute continued to escalate.
Watford later told investigators that the argument caused him to "snap," at which point he struck Susan multiple times. He also stated that he began choking her, applying pressure to her neck for four to five minutes, according to the complaint.
The Galveston Medical Examiner's Office determined that Susan's cause of death was blunt force trauma.
FBI officials confirmed that a child was present in the cabin at the time of the alleged assault. Child Protective Services has since confirmed the child is safe and currently in foster care.
Susan's family told ABC News she had left the Amish community at a young age. They described her as "funny" and the "best mom," adding that she loved her three children. Family members also called her "responsible" and noted she had taken college classes to earn her degree while previously working at Target to support her family.
Jason Watford is due back in court next week.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)