31-year-old Texas woman died after husband strangled her on MSC Seascape
Susan Watford was found motionless in her cabin after an argument with Jason Watford, who is now charged with murder.
By Julia Wang ·
The MSC Seascape departed from Galveston, Texas, for a Caribbean cruise that ended in a murder charge.
Jason Watford, 48, allegedly punched and strangled his wife, Susan Watford, 31, in their cabin on Sunday.
Court documents reviewed by The New York Post state that the couple argued at the ship's restaurant.
Watford admitted the argument caused him to snap, leading him to strike his wife multiple times.
She bled from the mouth during the attack, according to the filing.
Watford then wrapped his right arm around her neck and applied pressure for four to five minutes.
He released his hold only after becoming exhausted.
Susan Watford lay motionless on the cabin floor for approximately 10 minutes.
Jason Watford did not call ship security for medical help during that time.
A housekeeper discovered the body shortly after 9 p.m. when she knocked on the door to deliver towels.
The child in the couple's care was present in the cabin during the incident.
Watford was removed from the ship when it returned to Galveston on Monday and charged with murder. The cruise then continued its itinerary without him. The suspect has a prior guilty plea for causing bodily injury by grabbing his wife's wrist during a dispute over cash. The couple married in December 2021 and had one daughter together. Susan Watford worked as a team leader at Target in Tyler, Texas, before the trip. She had also graduated from Colorado Technical University and was a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. Her foster sister, Breana Chappell, said the two met at the Coyote Children's Home in Harrisburg, Missouri. Chappell noted that Watford planned to visit her after hearing about the birth of Chappell's new baby weeks before the cruise. Larry McDaniel, the retired founder of the home, described Watford as a survivor and a hard worker. He recalled an email she sent a few years ago stating she was doing well and feeling proud of her progress. Watford had previously been married to Marland Lane from 2013 to 2019. The pair had two children before divorcing. Lane served four years in prison for his role in a 2013 police chase in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he fired stolen guns while driving. Watford received five years of probation and 60 days in jail for a separate probation violation. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-SAFE.
