South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Grandfather pleads guilty in toddler’s cruise ship death
A grandfather accused in the fatal fall of his younggranddaughter froman 11th-story window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico last year pleaded guilty Thursday to negligent homicide.
Salvatore“Sam” AnelloofValparaiso, Indiana, said earlier this year thathewould drop a not-guilty plea to help endwhat he called “thisnightmare” for his family.
Eighteen-month-old Chloe Wiegand slipped fromhis graspandfellabout150feet from an open windowof Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Freedom of the Seas ship in July 2019.
PuertoRicoprosecutorLauraHernández said Anellowouldbesentenced Dec. 10. “WehavefoundjusticeforChloe,” shesaid. DefenseattorneyMichaelWinklemansaid in a statement that Anello will not face any jail time and that he will serve probation in Indiana.
“This decisionwas an incredibly difficult one for Samand the family, but because the plea agreement includes no jail time and no admission of facts, itwas decided the plea deal is in the best interests of the family so that they can close this horrible chapter and turntheirfocustomourningChloeandfighting for cruise passenger safety,” hesaid.
Anello, 51, has repeatedly said he did not knowthewindowinthe children’s playarea was open and that he liftedChloe up to it so shecouldknockontheglasslikeshehaddone at her brother’shockeygames.
“Iwasn’t drinking and Iwasn’t dangling her out of a window,” he said in a previous statement. He said he is colorblind and might not have realized the tinted window was open.
The girl’s parents sued Royal Caribbean last year and accused the company of negligence. In response, Royal Caribbean said that surveillance video shows Anello leaning out the windowfor about eight seconds before lifting the girl by and out of the open windowfor34secondsbeforehelosthisgrip. Thefamilysaiditwouldhavebeenphysically impossible for Anello to lean out like that. Thecivil case is ongoing.
Royal Caribbean did not respond to a request forcommentonThursday.