Cruise Ship Baby Death Tragedy: Grandfather Pleads Guilty

It was such a tragic story! A grandfather held his baby granddaughter out of a cruise ship window and she fell and died. Now the grandfather is pleading guilty, in a bid for his family to find peace.

Salvatore Anello was charged after dropping 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand out a cruise ship window. The baby fell 45m to her death while the ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The grandfather has this week, pleaded guilty to the charges of negligent homicide, as reported in news.com.au.

Mr. Anello had been responsible for looking after his granddaughter on 7 July 2019, during a family holiday on board the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Freedom of the Seas.

So Tragic!

He picked Chloe up so she could bang on the glass of the window just as she did at her brother’s hockey games. Sadly, the toddler then fell through the open window. The awful footage was later leaked.

While the family was opposed to Mr Anello facing charges, family lawyer Michael Winkleman said in a statement that the plea will allow the family to move on, as reported on NBC.

Close This Chapter

“It was decided the plea deal is in the best interests of the family so that they can close this horrible chapter,” Mr Winkleman said.

Mr Anello originally pleaded not guilty in July last year, and he rejected a plea deal late last year.

However, he has now changed his plea to guilty, saying he would do whatever is necessary to end the nightmare for the family.

End This Nightmare

“I took a plea deal to try to help end part of this nightmare for my family, if possible,” he said in a statement.

“The support they continue to give me has been beyond overwhelming and I can’t tell you how grateful I am for them.”

The plea deal means that Mr Anello will not have to go to jail. Instead, he will serve probation in his home in Indiana.

The grandfather will be sentenced on 10 December, as reported on NBC.

Chloe Wiegand and her grandfather. tragic story of toddler who fell from cruise ship

Was The Cruise Ship Company At Fault?

Chloe’s parents, Alan and Kimberly Wiegand are still pursuing their law suit against Royal Caribbean for unlimited damages.

“We will continue the fight for justice for Chloe and to hold Royal Caribbean accountable for its brazen failure to follow the standards designed precisely to prevent children from falling out of windows.” their family lawyer said.

Royal Caribbean has maintained that tinted handles on the windows would have indicated that it was open.

Mr Anello said he is colour blind and as a result did not see that the window was open.

What are your thoughts about this awful cruise ship tragedy? Tell us in the comments below.

28 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 09 Dec 2023
    8:18 am
Such a horrible thing to happen. This poor man and the entire family.

- - mom101628 said
  - 15 Dec 2020
    11:33 pm
That poor man will live with what has happened and that is worse than any sentence could be. I feel sorry for all concerned.

- - ashna9 said
  - 01 Nov 2020
    9:44 pm
Well he was guilty. He didn’t do it on purpose but he did do it.

- - mom19782016 said
  - 19 Oct 2020
    1:19 pm
Although it’s a tragedy, I’m not sure why he gets to serve his sentence at home rather than in jail.

- - rovermum said
  - 19 Oct 2020
    12:10 pm
Just heartbreaking and so sad. I don’t think there is any good outcome really. I think Grandad will live with the guilt and devastation of this for the rest of his life. Such a tragic accident.

- - BellaB said
  - 18 Oct 2020
    6:53 pm
Having said that I think the Grandfather was to blame, I can see that would be hard for the parents to accept. They’re still wrong to sue.

- - Kylie said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    7:59 pm
Such a tragedy all round. The family have to live with this forever and charges laid that they didn’t want in the first place. I hope there’s a change in how they manage windows in the future on cruise ships.

- - mom467510 said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    9:20 am
What a nightmare :(, reading this sends shivers down my spine. My thoughts are with the family.

- - Gwen2620 said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    7:52 am
Trying to blame the cruise ship for his actions – not on. He definitely needed to accept responsibility -he held her out and he dropped her. Case closed.

- - mom466923 said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    7:30 am
I remember when this happened. It is horrible and the grandfather deserves jail for life. There is no such a thing as an accident in this case.

- - Ellen said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    5:54 am
A heartbreaking incident ! I doubt if it really helps to point fingers. Maybe windows on a cruise ships shouldn’t be able to open other then a couple of centimeters ?
- Lovesthecuddles replied
  
  18 Oct 2020 , 9:35 am
  I agree or I didn’t think the windows did open. I was under the impression you needed a balcony suite if you wanted to go outside.
  - Ellen replied
    
    19 Oct 2020 , 5:55 am
    
    yes me too
- - 222jodes said
  - 17 Oct 2020
    12:46 am
Gosh the pain the whole family must be feeling.. the poor grand father must be beside himself, just can’t imagine ????
- Ellen replied
  
  17 Oct 2020 , 7:22 am
  Yes it’s hard to imagine what they’re are going through.
- - mom265671 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    11:45 pm
Absolutely tragic story and news that I’ve read. It’s sad

- - Mumofboys said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    10:44 pm
This poor family has suffered the ultimate loss, I don’t believe the grandfather is guilty and he is punishing himself enough as it is. The cruise ship should be held accountable for what happened to this innocent little girl.

- - mom460689 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    9:19 pm
That poor family. That would be so devastating. I hope they can all get through this horrible tragedy.

- - mom268263 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    9:17 pm
Can’t bear to watch the footage but tragic all round, and unbearable loss for the family to not see their daughter grow up.

- - Frankiielot said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    8:36 pm
Oh my goodness, this is so sad.
If it were my child I wouldn’t be able to get over it that’s for sure.
I’m glad the family is pushing for RC to be accountable and change the structure of their windows.

- - SPerry37 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    8:20 pm
Such a huge tragedy the pot grandfather

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    8:06 pm
Big tragedy. Feel so sorry for whole family.

- - BellaB said
  - 16 Oct 2020
    7:04 pm
I’ve seen the video of the incident. He clearly stuck his head out of the window BEFORE he picked his granddaughter up, and then quite deliberately held her out the window. I think he was at fault and the parents are wrong to be suing.