Grandfather who Dropped Baby out of Cruise Ship Window Pleads Guilty to Homicide

Wikimedia Commons by Michael Coghlan

Salvatore Anello, the grandfather who accidentally allowed his 18-month-old granddaughter to fall to her death out of a cruise ship window last year, pleaded guilty to negligent homicide.  

Anello initially pleaded not guilty in October of 2019, but released a statement in February of this year that he would change his plea in an effort to help his family move on from the tragedy.  “I took a plea deal today to try to help end part of this nightmare for my family, if possible.”

The 51-year-old grandfather has been adamant that he did not know the 11th floor window in the children’s play area of the docked Royal Caribbean cruise ship was open when he lifted grandchild Chloe Wiegand up to the glass, so she could knock on it like she had done at her older brother’s hockey games.

Anello’s lawyer, Michael Winkleman, previously said his client took the plea because it included no jail time, as negligent homicide can carry a three-year incarceration period in Puerto Rico, where the ship was docked. The deal also did not require an admission of facts, an important distinction, because Chloe’s parents are suing the cruise line for negligence.   

Royal Caribbean was unsuccessful in attempts to have the case thrown out of court, alleging that Anello had stuck his head out of the window and knew it was open, an accusation the family has vehemently denied. 

Anello claims he is colorblind and may not have been able to see the tinted window was left open. “I wasn’t drinking and I wasn’t dangling her out of the window.” 

After toddling away from the splash pool on the first day of the seven-day cruise, Chloe led Anello towards the windows and he lifted her up to sit on the handrail, but she slipped from his grasp and plunged 150 feet to her death. 

“Chloe being gone is the worst thing ever, so I’m like whatever, you know. There’s nothing worse that they could do to me than what’s already happened,“ he said


Subscribe
Notify of
guest
15 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Ginger Firestone
Ginger Firestone
3 years ago

“she slipped from his grasp” – not the fault of the cruise line. This is all on grandpa. He’s lucky he isn’t in jail, but I doubt the relationship he had with the parents are ever going to be good again. He killed their child. I am a grandparent and yes, accidents can happen; this shouldn’t have happened. No matter how many ways I try to see this, it still comes down to “it’s his fault”.

Fred C
Fred C
3 years ago

Sounds like a terrible tragedy and a terrible accident. I think the grandfather is telling the truth. I don’t know how the parents can go on. The entire family’s lives are over. None of them will know any peace. My heart and prayers go out to all of them.

lwayne
lwayne
3 years ago
Reply to  Fred C

Seems like an over zealous prosecutor aiming for higher office. Would lose me on this one alone.

vladimir
vladimir
3 years ago
Reply to  lwayne

Sounds like a libby snow flake family that wishes they would have aborted the child 3 years ago .

catnip
catnip
3 years ago
Reply to  lwayne

I’m trying to picture this, it doesn’t make sense that a baby can fall into the water if baby wasn’t being held outside. How does one hold up a baby, even if it slips, how does baby end up outside of window. If Baby should slip out of hands &physics says it should fall onto the floor.

vladimir
vladimir
3 years ago
Reply to  Fred C

Why did the libby snow flakes need to wait till the child reached the age of 3 to kill it, there are many libby snow flakes working at planned parenthood that would have enjoyed to kill it .

kbhret
kbhret
3 years ago

Horrible accident

D MacKAY
D MacKAY
3 years ago

He feels so terrible he would rather die…the prosecutor is the usual heartless POS that most are and the trial would bankrupt the entire family in what normally would be deemed a very tragic accidental death.

vladimir
vladimir
3 years ago
Reply to  D MacKAY

Does the grand father work at planned parenthood and enjoy killing babies . . . . .

Gary
Gary
3 years ago

He deserves prison time. Nobody’s that stupid putting their child or grand child in danger.

vladimir
vladimir
3 years ago
Reply to  Gary

globalists and globalist puppet $oro$ and globalist puppet democrat criminal party gives their libby snow flake voters up to birth to abort the child, why did they wait till the child is 3 years old to kill it . . . . .

Czerny
Czerny
3 years ago
Reply to  Gary

Prison time won’t bring the child back. No amount of prison time will equal the suffering he’ll carry with him for life.

Jhandyy
Jhandyy
3 years ago
Reply to  Gary

Give ‘im the death penalty. Eye-for-an-eye I say.

eEllen
3 years ago

My heart just breaks for this Grandfather, he has to be “ Broken inside” from what has happened. His family is tormented by loosing their child, and trying to forgive their parent for the accident . I know, If I were in his position, I wouldn’t care if I had to go to prison or if I died . My life wouldn’t matter anymore .

Louie Rey
Louie Rey
3 years ago

I don’t think he could ever be punsihed anymore than he already is and will be for the rest of his life.