by Donald Wood
Last updated: 7:50 AM ET, Tue November 10, 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a formal probe into a suspected homicide aboard an MSC Cruises ship after a woman was found dead during a Caribbean sailing, prompting the vessel to return to Texas and a passenger to be taken into custody.
According to ABC News, the incident occurred aboard the MSC Seascape, which departed Galveston, Texas, on Sunday, November 8, for a scheduled seven-night cruise. The ship returned to port Monday as authorities launched an investigation.
The New York Post identified the passenger taken into custody as Jason Leon Watford. The woman’s identity, her relationship to Watford, and the circumstances surrounding her death have not been publicly disclosed. Authorities have not announced criminal charges.
The FBI confirmed that an individual had been taken into custody in connection with the suspected homicide. The agency said it was withholding the individual’s identity pending notification of the victim’s family and added that the investigation remains ongoing.
The FBI is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, and MSC Cruises. The bureau described its involvement as customary for investigations involving crimes aboard cruise ships.
“We are cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted,” MSC Cruises said in a statement. The company said authorities instructed the vessel to return to Galveston after the incident was reported.
The MSC Seascape subsequently departed Galveston and resumed its scheduled itinerary, which includes stops in Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel before returning to Texas on November 15.
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