Grandfather of toddler who died in cruise ship fall sentenced to probation
Salvatore Anello, the man whose granddaughter fell out of an open cruise ship window in Puerto Rico, has been sentenced to three years of probation in her death.
Puerto Rico’s Department of Justice announced the sentencing on Monday. Anello, who goes by Sam, agreed to a plea deal in the death of 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand a year ago.
He was holding the toddler when he placed her on a railing next to what he thought was a closed window 11 stories up on the Freedom of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, in July 2019. Anello has said he did not realize a window was open and thought he was in front of a wall of glass.
But authorities in Puerto Rico said he “negligently exposed the child to the abyss through a window” when they charged him with negligent homicide in October 2019.
Anello, who is married to Chloe’s maternal grandmother, will be allowed to serve the probation at home in Indiana, according to a lawyer representing Chloe’s family in a lawsuit against Royal Caribbean.
[‘A constant nightmare’: Grandfather charged in toddler’s cruise-ship death agrees to plead guilty]
In a statement provided by the attorney, Michael Winkleman, Anello said he was relieved that he would not have to serve jail time or admit any facts, and that his family could move on from this chapter. But he said he was angry at the cruise line for allowing the windows to open.
“I decided not to contest these charges, even though I know I committed no crime, because I would not have to admit any facts or suffer any significant penalty,” he said in the statement.
Anello said the family decided to focus its energy on the civil case against Royal Caribbean, which has not yet gone to trial. He said the family believes they can “make a real difference for the safety of the youngest cruise passengers” by fighting to make sure the cruise line follows rules and laws that do not allow such windows to open more than a few inches.
“If these rules were followed when we were on that ship, Chloe would still be alive today,” he said. “I miss you so much Chloe.”
A spokesman for Royal Caribbean Group, Jonathon Fishman, did not address a question about the windows.
“This was a tragic incident, and our hearts go out to the family,” he said in a statement. “Out of respect for the family’s privacy during this very sad time, we have no further comment.”
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Grandfather charged with negligent homicide in toddler’s fatal fall from cruise ship
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