Mom of 3 Beaten to Death on Cruise Was a ‘Free Spirit’ Who Left Amish Community as a Child: Family

Susan Watford was killed aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship on Sunday, Nov. 8, following an alleged argument with her husband Jason Watford, according to federal investigators

NEED TO KNOW

• Jason Watford has been charged with murder in connection with his wife Susan Watford’s killing   
• According to her family members, Susan was a devoted mom to her three kids, one of whom was in the room where she was killed
• Jason was previously convicted of attempted murder in Illinois in 1996 

The woman found choked and beaten to death on a cruise ship had worked to build a free-spirited life for herself despite struggles in her marriage, according to her family.

Susan Watford was killed aboard the MSC Seascape cruise ship on Sunday, Nov. 8, following an alleged argument with her husband Jason Watford, according to federal investigators.

Jason, 48, was arrested the following day after the ship docked in Galveston, Texas.

Since her tragic killing, Susan’s family members have opened up about who the mom of three was — and the life she’d built for herself.

Susan grew up for part of her life in an Amish community, family members told Click 2 Houston and ABC 7 Chicago.

Her mother, Dorothy Mast, told Click 2 Houston she adopted Susan after she left the community at the age of 15.

Susan was a “free spirit always waiting for the next adventure,” Mast said, per the outlet, adding that she was also doing the work of healing from past trauma — including an assault by Jason.

According to other relatives, Susan was a hardworking and devoted mother to her three children, one of whom she shared with Jason, per ABC 7 Chicago. She is being remembered for her humor and as the “best mom.”

One of her children was in the room where she was killed, Mast told Click 2 Houston.

An FBI spokesperson previously told PEOPLE that a “a child was involved in the situation but was found unharmed by responding law enforcement and FBI personnel.”

Susan was previously assaulted by Jason on at least one occasion, which landed him probation and 15 months of community service, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

However, according to Mast, her daughter wanted to give Jason another chance and acknowledged that he had taken anger management classes and completed his community service.

Mast said she was worried enough for Susan that she asked her daughter to not board the cruise. But Susan wanted to go on this trip to determine whether to give her marriage another shot or get a divorce, Mast said, per Click 2 Houston.

The investigation into the killing began after a housekeeper dropping off towels allegedly found Jason with blood on his clothes and Susan unresponsive face down on the floor, according to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.

Jason allegedly admitted to beating Susan so viciously she had blood coming out of her mouth that spilled on his clothes, officers noted in the affidavit.

He allegedly said he then choked her with both hands and wrapped his arm around her as she lay on the floor, as he applied “pressure to [her] neck for approximately four to five minutes and released his hold only after becoming exhausted.”

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Jason was previously convicted of attempted murder in Illinois in 1996. He was sentenced to 10 years behind bars in that case.

Now, he has been charged with murder in connection with Susan’s death.

Plea information was not immediately available in online court records as of Thursday, Nov. 12, and his attorney previously declined to comment when contacted by PEOPLE.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.