UPDATE: Murder : Cruise Boat, Jason Watford, Last Post

LittleTexas : Was on news earlier. Crazy!

LittleTexas : omg.. not much info on his relation to the victim. Terrible to do that to anybody, especially on a vacation.

LittleTexas :
Well, it will certainly be memorable. Lol. I also just heard about this on the news earlier and was surprised. There was also a story about a pianist that fell off of a cruise and was rescued, I think 9 hours later by a fishing crew. At least that one survived. This just reinforces the idea that I do not want to go on any cruises any time soon. Lol

LittleTexas :
Well I have been on a lot of cruises but so far no one has tried to murder me. On a cruise there are cameras everywhere but none in the cruise cabin. But cameras are on the balcony I think.

sweetie :
In a way he screwed up a lot of people's vacation. They had to turn around and get back to the port. Major bummer.

sweetie :
None yet, they are still doing the investigation, and this morning, had to notify the victim's family Might have been fueled by alcohol/jealousy/ongoing drama? Bet the perp says it was 'accident', but they will figure all that out, in the next few days. In any case, it is very sad! The story made the NBC Nightly News; not many homicides on cruise ships :0

Donnawisdom : But they left port again and news said that they will not miss any ports of call that were on the itinerary so that's good! Woke up back in Galveston and the passengers did not know why. Craziness!

Donnawisdom :
yes, not on each balcony, but there are cameras that point towards the balconies, on each side, etc, of the ship. That footage is definitely something they will access. Also, talking to passengers in adjacent cabins; what did they hear or see? views of hallways, elevator areas, bars, passageways; they will be able to track them all over that vessel. The body will tell the story of the actual crime.

The man arrested is named Jason Leon Watford. , 48, of Tyler, Texas. Not his first rodeo, he was arrested in 2024 for assault causing bodily injury. to a family member, The story from some other passengers ( not evidence, just hearsay, right now), is that they were arguing, and she 'fell and hit her head' during the altercation

On my cruise we stopped at Nassau and a passenger got sick. We returned to rendezvous with Coast Guard in Miami at 3 AM to transfer patient. Went to Cozumel and Costa Maya then a Crew member got sick and we went to Key West and rendezvous with Coast Guard again and then went to Ocean Cay and then back to Port Canaveral.

LittleTexas : You don't fall and hit your head when you're arguing. In fact, you don't fall at all while arguing unless someone pushed you.

He has admitted to losing his temper and strangling her is what I read.. i also read the maid saw him covered in blood. Maybe after he strangled her he dropped her and she hit her head... I just wonder if it is the same family member he was charged for assaulting previously.
I cruise often at least twice a year and I have been fortunate to not witness fights or anything like that.... I have had the ship turn around for medical emergencies and seen a helicopter medivac out a person at sea.
I will add the alcohol flows ESPECIALLY on the first night which likely contributed.

GoldenGirl :
I dont think she is a family member. They argued at a bar on ship, and then went back to the room. My guess is he hit her, and then strangled her. I would imagine other cruisers heard them, and cameras would catch them arguing in the bar. Prayers for the victim's family, and hope he doesnt get probation, like he did , re his last arrest.