The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship, which returned to port in Galveston, Texas, after departing on Sunday 8 November for a seven-night Caribbean cruise. The case was reported by Mathrubhumi on 10 November 2026.

A suspect is in custody, the FBI said on Monday. No charges had been announced, and the suspect's name was withheld pending notification of the victim's family.

The victim was a woman, confirmed by the Galveston County Medical Examiner's Office. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday 10 November.

What happened on board

Ship tracking shows the vessel turned around at about 5:20am on Monday 9 November and docked back in Galveston late that morning. It resumed its voyage and left Galveston on Monday afternoon.

MSC Cruises said: "On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston." The company said it is cooperating with authorities.

Local media reports identified the man in custody as 48-year-old Jason Leon Watford, booked into Galveston County Jail on a federal hold. That identification has not been confirmed by the FBI, and the name is reported here only as local media reported it.

The investigation

An FBI maritime liaison agent from the Texas City Resident Agency is coordinating with the US Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police, US Customs and Border Protection and MSC Cruises.

The involvement of several agencies reflects the nature of the case: a death aboard a cruise ship in waters off the United States coast falls under federal investigation, with port and border authorities also involved.

The FBI has not released further details about the circumstances of the death. The investigation is ongoing, and the identity of the victim has not been made public pending notification of the family.

The ship and its voyage

The MSC Seascape has 2,270 cabins, more than 1,600 crew and can host nearly 5,900 guests. It runs five- and seven-night sailings between Galveston and the Caribbean.

The ship had departed Galveston on Sunday 8 November for a seven-night Caribbean cruise when the incident was reported, leading to the return to port on Monday.

Passengers on board would have seen their cruise interrupted by the return to Galveston, before the ship resumed its voyage on Monday afternoon. The cruise line has not said how the schedule was affected beyond the return and departure.