FBI probes possible killing on Texas cruise ship
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The gist
The FBI is investigating a suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape, which returned to Galveston, Texas, after departing Sunday.
The ship has resumed its itinerary; no victim or suspect details have been released.
Background
MSC Cruises operates the MSC Seascape, a ship with 2,270 cabins, more than 1,600 crew and capacity for nearly 5,900 guests, sailing from Galveston, Texas, on five- and seven-night Caribbean trips. The FBI, which describes itself as the primary federal agency authorized to investigate potential crimes on the high seas, said it is looking into a suspected homicide aboard the vessel. Such investigations are uncommon on cruise ships, and the case comes after an 18-year-old Florida teen, Anna Kepner, died on a Carnival cruise ship out of Florida earlier in 2025.
How it unfolded
- Nov 8, 2026The MSC Seascape left Texas on a seven-night trip with stops on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Roatan, Honduras.
- Nov 9, 2026The FBI said it was investigating a suspected homicide aboard the ship, which returned to port in Galveston after authorities instructed it to do so, according to MSC Cruises spokesperson Natasha Fernandez.
- Nov 9, 2026MSC Cruises said the vessel had resumed its voyage and left Galveston as of Monday afternoon, while cooperating with authorities.
Key terms
- FBI
- The principal federal law enforcement and domestic intelligence agency of the United States, part of the Department of Justice.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The FBI said it is investigating a suspected homicide aboard the MSC Seascape and that the investigation is ongoing, providing no further details.
- Official
- FBI Houston said an FBI Maritime Liaison Agent is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port of Galveston Police Department and Customs and Border Protection, as is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship.
- Party
- MSC Cruises spokesperson Natasha Fernandez said authorities instructed the ship to return to Galveston and that the company is cooperating and providing support to those impacted.
Still unverified
No information was immediately available about the victim, any possible suspects or the circumstances of the incident. In the separate earlier Carnival case, Kepner's family believes her 16-year-old stepbrother is a suspect, according to court filings from a custody hearing obtained by CBS News, which refer to him as "T.H."