A passenger has been hauled off a cruise ship in handcuffs after a woman was found dead in a suspected homicide.
The victim, whose identity was not revealed, was killed on the MSC Seascape before it turned around and returned to port in Galveston, Texas, on Monday.
The FBI's Houston field office said it was investigating a 'suspected homicide' and that a man was arrested, but declined to give any further details.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, was marched off the ship and booked into the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold, where records showed he was still languishing.
Passengers said the man arrested on board allegedly killed his partner during an argument in the 10th deck of the massive cruise ship.
Videos shot from multiple angles by people on board showed Watford being led away from the ship in handcuffs by police and federal agents.
Some passengers said they were woken up by repeated announcements in the early hours of the morning, though it was not clear when the victim was killed.
Watford was previously arrested for assault causing bodily injury to a family member in September 2024, the Smith County Sheriff's Office confirmed.
Jason Leon Watford, 48, was booked into the Galveston County Jail on a federal hold as the FBI investigates a 'suspected homicide' after a woman was killed on the MSC Seascape
Videos shot from multiple angles by people on board showed a man, later identified as Watford, being led away from the ship in handcuffs by police and federal agents
Watford was hauled off a cruise ship in handcuffs after another passenger was found dead in a suspected homicide
Holidaymakers staying in surrounding cabins said they saw a gurney and forensic investigators near the door before they were moved to other rooms.
Photos taken by passengers showed forensic crews on board the ship examining the scene and taking away evidence.
The US Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, and Customs and Border Protection were assisting with the investigation.
'On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston,' MSC Cruises said.
The cruise line was 'cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted.'
The vessel left port about 11am on Monday to continue its delayed voyage. The cruise is due to stop at Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel in Mexico.
The victim was killed on the MSC Seascape (pictured in 2023) before it turned around and returned to port in Galveston, Texas, on Monday
Watford seen being led away in handcuffs is seen in a photo taken by a passenger
The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the victim was a woman and said an autopsy would be conducted on Tuesday.
The victim's name and age were not released by authorities.
MSC runs a fleet of 23 ships. The Italian cruise line launched the Seascape in 2022.
It cost $1 billion and can carry up to 5,877 passengers, as well as 1,648 crew members.