Susan Watford had built a career, earned a university degree and was raising three children before her life ended violently at the age of 31 during a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico.
Born Susan Wengred, she left the Amish community where she grew up as a teenager and eventually entered the foster care system in Columbia, Missouri. She spent part of her adolescence at Coyote Hill Children’s Home, where she became close to other foster children and was remembered as someone who looked after the younger girls.
Larry McDaniel, the retired founder of the home, described Susan as hardworking, cheerful and resilient. He said he was pleased to see her establish herself after leaving foster care.
McDaniel recalled that Susan had become involved in a programme using horse riding to support foster children and military veterans dealing with trauma.
He also remembered receiving an email from her a few years ago in which she expressed pride in how far she had progressed in life.
Foster Family Remembers Her as a Sister
Susan’s former foster sisters have shared tributes following news of her death. Breana Chappell, who grew up alongside her at Coyote Hill, said their relationship extended beyond their time in foster care.
Chappell described Susan, whom they called Suz, as someone who had been part of her life since childhood. She shared photographs of the group together, including images of them holding hands beneath a Christmas tree.
She said the relationships formed in foster care had become family bonds and that Susan would always remain her sister.
In the weeks before her death, Susan had also discussed visiting Chappell after learning that she had welcomed a new baby. In a message, she suggested that they arrange a visit and apologised for not having been in regular contact.
Earlier Criminal Case and First Marriage
Susan encountered legal difficulties during her teenage years. In 2013, when she was 17, she was arrested following a series of thefts involving her future first husband, Marland Lane, and other associates.
Security footage reportedly captured Susan breaking into vehicles in Jefferson City, Missouri, and taking valuables. She was also accused of using a stolen credit card to make purchases.
Several days later, a vehicle she was travelling in crashed during a high-speed police pursuit in Boone County. The chase followed reports of gunfire, and stolen property was recovered from the wreckage.
Susan faced charges involving theft, fraud and forgery. In 2014, she pleaded guilty to a felony stealing charge and received five years of probation. She later served 60 days in jail after violating probation connected to an earlier offence.
Court records identified Lane as the driver during the police pursuit. He admitted firing two stolen guns from the vehicle and was sentenced to four years in prison. Two other occupants were also jailed on weapons and resisting arrest charges.
Lane’s sentence ran concurrently with other terms connected to theft, forgery, marijuana possession and driving without a licence.
After his release, Susan married him, and they had two children, Trey and Kristina. The children are now reported to have no relationship with their father.
Divorce and Career Progress at Target
Financial records indicated that Susan was the main earner in the household during her marriage to Lane. She reportedly earned between $17,000 and $21,000 annually, while his income from occasional work was approximately $4,500.
The family eventually settled in Tyler, Texas, about 100 miles east of Dallas. Susan filed for divorce in 2019 and began working at a local Target warehouse in October that year.
Her professional profile showed that she progressed within the company, becoming a team leader by 2024.
She also completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree online through Colorado Technical University in 2024. She was a member of the institution’s Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society.
In her professional profile, Susan highlighted her interests in financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, as well as her problem-solving and communication skills.
Second Marriage and Reported Domestic Violence
Susan married Jason Leon Watford in December 2021, less than two years after divorcing Lane. Watford, 48, is now being held in connection with her death.
There had been a previous reported incident involving the couple. In September 2024, Susan told police that Watford grabbed her wrist during an argument about money, prompting her to use a Taser to defend herself.
She had recorded audio of the confrontation, which reportedly captured Watford becoming increasingly aggravated as she told him to move away.
Watford initially denied assaulting her but later pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury to a family member. He received 15 months of probation.
The couple had a child together, who was still a toddler when Susan was killed.
Fatal Attack During Cruise
Susan and Watford boarded the MSC Seascape in Galveston, Texas, on Sunday morning for a cruise off the coasts of Mexico and Honduras.
According to a federal charging affidavit, the couple argued during dinner that evening. Watford left the restaurant and returned to their cabin at 7.46pm. Susan arrived approximately 25 minutes later, and the disagreement continued.
The affidavit alleges that Watford told investigators he lost control and punched Susan repeatedly in the face. The blows reportedly caused blood to land on his shirt, trousers and hands.
He allegedly went on to choke her with both hands before wrapping his right arm around her neck from behind while she was lying down.
According to the affidavit, Watford said he maintained pressure on her neck for approximately four to five minutes before releasing her because he was exhausted.
Housekeeper Raises Alarm
Susan’s death was discovered approximately 10 minutes after the alleged attack when a cabin housekeeper arrived to deliver towels.
The charging documents state that the housekeeper saw blood on Watford’s hands and clothing and noticed Susan lying behind him. The worker raised the alarm.
The MSC Seascape subsequently turned around and returned to Galveston, where Watford was taken off the vessel in handcuffs early Monday morning.
He is facing a federal murder charge that carries a possible life sentence. The toddler was reportedly inside the cabin during the incident but was not physically harmed.
The child is said to be in the care of Watford’s mother.
Fundraiser Launched for Susan’s Older Children
A fundraising campaign has been organised to provide clothing and basic necessities for Susan’s older children.
The organisers said Trey and Kristina had been unable to return to their home because of the ongoing investigation, leaving them without access to their clothes and other essential belongings.
Chappell also paid tribute to Susan, expressing sorrow over her death and the impact on her children and loved ones.
She said Susan had been taken from the world too soon and that her children would have to grow up without their mother’s care.
