While RCL deeply sympathizes with Plaintiffs and understands why grieving parents may wish to avoid reliving such events, it remains that Plaintiffs brought a lawsuit against RCL over these very events. The ship was docked in Puerto Rico at the time of the incident, on July 7, 2019. Is is possible that is happening with this story? Anello wascharged last yearin Puerto Rico with negligent homicide in her death and initially pleaded not guilty. Royal Caribbean did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In July 2019, one-year-old Chloe Wiegand fell 150 feet to her death after her grandfather Salvatore Anello placed her on a ledge on the 11th floor of the Royal Caribbean Cruises' Freedom of the Seas ship. SugarPlum, I have no idea why he went on CBS, but is it possible that he is receiving compensation for the interview? IMHO that beer gut is what pushed Chloe through the window. Puerto Rican Police Sgt. The video contradicts Plaintiffs' version of events and leaves no room to . There was a railing about a foot from the windows, Michael Winkleman, the Wiegand family's attorney said. If so, that would be the motivation to do it. Authorities say a toddler apparently slipped from her grandfathers hands and fell to her death from a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico. The still shots taken from the videos show: 1. By, Toddler dies after falling from cruise ship. The ship was docked in Puerto Rico at the time of the incident, on July 7, 2019. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A grandfather who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-story window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto . [Feature Photo: Chloe Wiegand/Family Handout], North Carolina Cop, Wife Found Shot Dead in Fayetteville Home, We Have Zero Leads: $80,000 Reward Offered for Information Leading to Man Who Gunned Down Texas Family, Missing: 18-Year-Old Mom Takes Toddler Son From Dads During Supervised Visit, U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Florida, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Alan and Kim Wiegand are pursuing a federal lawsuit against Royal Caribbean, claiming the cruise line acted negligently when it failed to place a sign that could have warned others that the window was open. Texas Senate passes voting bill despite Dems fleeing the s Dad of crying infant that triggered Texas massacre 'never thought' gunman would shoot, It's not just soda: Nutritionists weigh in on the absolute worst drinks for your health, I'm a dentist you're ruining your teeth with these 4 common mistakes, Gayle King says she doesnt have a desire to retire: I want more work, WNBA star Brittney Griner is heading to the Met Gala, Mariah Carey celebrates Moroccan and Monroes 12th birthday: My babies, NY Post Sports Reporter Zach Braziller breaks down the Knicks game 1 loss to the Heat, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny. He said, no. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Chloe Wiegand, an 18-month-old toddler from Granger, Indiana, was on a cruise with family when she lost her life aboard Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. A witness to the tragedy told Telemundo that Kimberlys crying did not compare to any other scream., Statement from SBPD regarding the tragic news coming out of Puerto Rico involving the family of one of our officers. Chloe Wiegand's grandfather accidentally dropped the 18-month-old through an open window of the ship docked in San Juan in July 2019. United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, NOW WATCH: The world's largest cruise ship just landed in Miami here's what it's like on board. Chloe Wiegand plummeted from the 11th floor of Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas while it was docked in San . Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service/Getty. PUERTO RICO In response to a lawsuit filed by the family of an Indiana toddler who fell to her death from a cruise ship last year, Royal Caribbean Cruises claims security video shows that the girl's grandfather knew the window was open when he picked her up and dangled her out of it. Accordingly, the defendant owed no duty to warn of itThe true risk-creating danger here was Mr. Anello lifting a child up to an open window. The parents of Chloe Wiegand, the toddler who died from a cruise ship fall, is calling for for safer windows on luxury ocean liners. 4. We've received your submission. Newly surfaced video shows the grandfather of 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand pop his head out of a cruise-ship window and then dangle her over its ledge . Chloe's parents, Alan and Kimberly Wiegand, sued Royal Caribbean in 2019, saying the company's poorly-designed windows and lack of warning notices were responsible for the fall. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The surveillance video appears to show Anello look over the railing for one second. The cruise ship has now submitted those videos to the court in response to the lawsuit filed against them. On July 4, a crew member on board the Carnival Victory ship fell overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba. We pray the Lord to fill with strength this family who are living a true tragedy today.. He said Chloe slipped from his grip and her death was an accident. On Tuesday, a judge threw out the lawsuit before it could go to trial in Florida next week, arguing grandfather Salvatore Anello, who accidentally dropped the child to her death from the 11th deck, was to blame, according to Miami federal court documents. A newly-released deposition video obtained by MailOnline shows Chloe Wiegands mother emotionally distraught as she relives the day her toddler daughter died aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Port Authority spokesman Jose Carmona told CNN that the girl was in the dining hall playing with her grandfather on deck 11 of the ship when the tragedy occurred. Someone asked if Chloe had any health issues. WSVN reports that Satwilkar is the father of three children. This is not a case of an unknowing child approaching an open window and falling out because the window was defective or improperly positioned," the court documents read. Then after grandpas interviews lots of negative comments. The ship carries more than 4,500 passengers and crew. His actions, which no reasonable person could have foreseen, were reckless and irresponsible and the sole reason why Chloe is no longer with her parents., READ | Grandfather thought window was closed before Indiana toddler fell from cruise ship | Indiana toddler dies after falling from cruise ship. She had been on a family vacation with her parents, two siblings, and two sets of grandparents. Sign up for notifications from Insider! After the accident, I remember Kim getting there and screaming, Why would you have a window open? And thats the first time I realized it was like a window and not just like a missing pane of glass, he told the court, according to the article. He nonetheless lifted the child over the wooden rail and the open window for a considerable period, recklessly endangering her life. ). And as these photographs and the photos included in the Complaint show, the window was several feet off the deck. A message seeking comment on Anellos plea agreement was left Wednesday with a spokeswoman for Royal Caribbean Cruises. The true risk-creating danger here was Mr. Anello lifting a child up to an open window, federal Judge Donald Graham wrote, as he absolved the cruise liner of liability. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. By their own admission, Plaintiffs have never seen the video footage of the incident or even discussed the details of the incident with Mr. Anello, the only known eyewitness. Chloe Wiegand's family sues Royal Caribbean over toddler's cruise ship death Video of toddler's fatal cruise ship fall may help decide grandfather's fate 'She slipped': Grandfather speaks on . Within minutes, Chloe fell. Makes sense. I just wanted to knock on the glass with her as we did together so many times before.. When the pair finally spoke, Anello denied knowing that the window was open. Witnesses say she was taking a selfie during rough seas when she plunged overboard. The ship will return to Puerto Rico on July 14. Carmona said, Sadly, she died on impact.. Speaking to WSBT, Anellos supervisor said, Well Sal works in the IT department, hes a very valuable employee. He told CBS This Morning in November that he was trying to stand Chloe on the windows railing when she fell out of the window. Anello, who pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide last year, claimed he didnt know he was holding Chloe against an open window because there were no warning signs. Royal Caribbean has been cleared of wrongdoing in the 2019 falling death of toddler Chloe Wiegand, court documents show. Chloe died after falling from the 11th floor and landing on the hard, concrete surface of the Pan American dock. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Family 'heartbroken' as search called off for cruise passenger who fell overboard near Hawaii, Royal Caribbean cruise ship passenger goes overboard on trip to Hawaii, Magician tackled onstage by guest during Royal Caribbean cruise show, Royal Caribbean cruise ship rescues 17 Cuban migrants spotted on tiny 'boat', taken legal action against the cruise line. Not unusual for premies, and don't know what if any issues remained as a toddler. When the incident first happened, stories would have thousands of replies, most skeptical of the claims against the cruise line. the CBS affiliate in South Bend, the South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski confirmed that Wiegands father is Officer Alan Wiegand. An Indiana grandfather who pleaded guilty to dropping his granddaughter through an 11th-floor cruise ship window learned his sentencing on Monday, according to officials. Powered by. The entire ship had a wall of glass in an open-aired area. (I'm not suggesting Chloe had a health issue, though. fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-story window, pleaded guilty in the case in October 2020, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I dont think I can watch that, Im sorry, Kimberly said. Royal Caribbean did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. (ECF No. I have a question, apparently hes done an interview (I havent seen it yet) where hes quoted as saying. Royal Caribbean has been cleared of wrongdoing, following a lawsuit brought on by the parents of Chloe Wiegand, a toddler who lost her life aboard the cruise ship in 2018. Chloe Wiegand died because of her grandfather's foolish mistake, not because of the cruise line. There was no hidden danger Mr. Anello knew the window was open.. People say she would still be alive if the window was closed, but that's such a bullshit argument because no one else fell from it. The Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas sails year-round out of Port Canaveral, Fla., on seven-night Caribbean cruises. 1:23. Grandfather thought window was closed before Indiana toddler fell from cruise ship, Indiana toddler dies after falling from cruise ship. He lost his balance which caused Wiegand to fall. Lawyers for the cruise line asked a judge to consider the fact that the childs parents didnt watch the footage and didnt discuss the incident with Anello for months. Royal Caribbean was under no duty to warn about the open window where Salvatore "Sam" Anello placed 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand.. From the ruling by U.S. District Judge Donald L. Graham:. [Feature Photo: Chloe Wiegand/Family Handout], North Carolina Cop, Wife Found Shot Dead in Fayetteville Home, We Have Zero Leads: $80,000 Reward Offered for Information Leading to Man Who Gunned Down Texas Family, Missing: 18-Year-Old Mom Takes Toddler Son From Dads During Supervised Visit, subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. "This court finds that a reasonable person through ordinary use of his senses would have known of the dangers associated with Mr. Anello's conduct. The Miami Herald identified the missing man as Gaffar Satwilkar. A life that belonged on his own show: Born . recklessly endangering her life. Little Chloe Wiegand pictured on her father's Facebook page. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He then reaches down, picks Chloe up and appears to hold her over the railing. Salvatore Sam Anello, who was holding Chloe Wiegand when she slipped from his grasp and fell about 150 feet to her death from anopen 11th-floor windowon Royal Caribbean Cruises ship, filed change of plea documents Monday in a Puerto Rico court in which he agreed to plead guilty to a negligent homicide charge in the 18-month-olds death, said the familys attorney, Michael Winkleman. The couple live in San Francisco and married in November . Chloe Wiegand fell from a Royal Caribbean ship's 11th deck in 2019 after her grandfather held her up. Chloe Wiegand's mother Kimberly sobbed as she recalled seeing her 18 month-old daughter's corpse . Notwithstanding, for the reasons stated in this Motion, the Court need not consider the video to find the Complaint should be dismissed for failure to state a cause of action. The stunning video shows grandfather Salvatore Anello, clad in a dark shirt, put his head out the window for 8 seconds before picking up Chloe in her white sunhat from the floor, according to court papers filed by Royal Caribbean in a bid to dismiss the Wiegand familys lawsuit over the tots July death. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. He is from Valparaiso, Indiana, while the rest of the family is from Granger, Indiana. Chloe Wiegand is the toddler who was dropped by her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, on board a Royal Caribbean ship to her death. Being colorblind doesn't does not make one blind. The toddler died instantly after falling from the window ledge. You can still tell the difference in light or dark shades. Further, the photographs included in the Complaint also show the middle glass panes contain a handle to allow the operable windows to be slid open. And thats been the conversation that I had with him, Kimberly said. Royal Caribbean has been cleared of wrongdoing in the 2019 falling death of toddler Chloe Wiegand, court documents show. IndyStar. Just saying I know of parents purchasing policies. I screamedI screamed and I know he was talking back. I've been reading about the death of Chloe Weigand, who passed in 2019, when her step-grandfather dangled her from the window of a cruise ship and dropped her. He has said he did not know the window in the childrens play area was open and that he lifted 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand up to it so she could knock on the glass as she had done at her brothers hockey games. Facebook/Alan Wiegand He nonetheless lifted the child over the wooden rail and the open window for a considerable period, recklessly endangering her life. 7. 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A judge said the grandfather should have known he was holding Chloe to an open window. Chloe's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean Cruises in December 2019, claiming the company violated industry standards by failing to provide reasonably safe windows in an area where children play on the ship. Anello also is facing criminal charges in Puerto Rico, where prosecutors have charged him with negligent homicide in the tots death. We will be filing the appeal shortly and we will continue to fight and raise awareness about the dangers of unintentional toddler window falls. ", After Chloe fell out of the window, Anello drops to his knees, according to Winkleman, and he yelled out loud, "I just dropped my child. The family hails from Indiana. Royal Caribbean has said that Wiegands death was a tragic incident and that the company was helping the family. rather than creating a tremendous safety hazard that cost our child her life." Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Indianapolis, IN Interactive Weather Radar. I was in complete disbelief, Anello said in Wednesdays statement. Dr. Marcel Alexander Armand Van Drunick, the on board doctor for the ship, gave a witness statement describing finding Chloe Wiegand's body on July 7 on the dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico. "I think it's pretty obvious why they leaned forward, and that would be so that you could get a better view," Winkleman said. Salvatore "Sam" Anello was holding 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand before she fell to her death on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Chloe Wiegand's parents sued Royal Caribbean in December, accusing the operator of negligence in her death by allowing the 11th-floor window in the ship's children's play area to be open. A man attorneys said is Anello is seen following her. I thought there was glass!". According to officials in the U.S. territory, Chloe Wiegand was 18 months old at the time of her death. Her parents sued the cruise line. As the negligent homicide trial for Salvatore "Sam" Anello inches closer, new details are continuing to emerge about what happened on that fateful day in July, when 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell 150 feet to her death off the 11th deck of a Royal Caribbean cruise liner. News North Sports Indy 500 Things To Do Opinion Obituaries . Local 10 reports that the search for the missing man spanned 2,600 nautical miles. I wonder who put him up to this? The cruise line indicated that video footage showed Anello leaning over the ledge at the window and looking out before he picked his granddaughter up and held her by it. Her grandfather was holding her at the time while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. If an 18 month old child fell to her death because a caregiver sat or stood her on an apartment balcony railing would anyone be taking the side of the caregiver? Mr. Anello stays in front of the open window and exposes Chloe to the open window, which was 11 decks high off the ground, with nothing but a concrete pier below, for approximately 34 seconds at which time she unfortunately fell. Are the comments from family member or in response to the family members tw ee ts? Woman Who Fell Off Cruise Ship in 2012 Explains How Terrifying It Is, It's a vacation nightmare as a passenger falls 15 stories off a cruise ship balcony into the pitch black sea. #southbend pic.twitter.com/xjyDSgmV8X, South Bend Police (@southbendpolice) July 8, 2019, According to his Facebook page, Salvatore Anello works in IT for St. Joseph County. I think I posted on the other thread there is a possibility he was colorblind. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Michael Winkelman, an attorney for Chloe Wiegand's parents, told Insiderthat they planned to appeal. Under the plea agreement, Anello wouldnt serve time behind bars and would serve his probation in Indiana, Winkleman said Wednesday, adding that a hearing in which a judge would consider the plea hadnt been scheduled. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. Anello, who often accompanied Chloe to her brothers hockey games, where she enthusiastically banged on the hockey rink glass panel, said he lifted the girl up at her request while they were in the play area. . Winkleman said Anellos decision to agree to plea guilty is in the best interests of the family so that they can close this horrible chapter and turn their focus to mourning Chloe., Winkleman said the family would also be focusing on fighting for cruise passenger safety by raising awareness about the need for all common carriers to adhere to window fall prevention laws designed to protect children from falling from windows.. During the deposition, however, Kimberly admitted that she initially screamed at her stepfather, Anello, and accused him of killing his granddaughter. Its noteworthy that it only took Kimberly a few moments to realize how unsafe these windows are once the incident occurredTheres absolutely no requirement for her to watch the video. "What do you say to the fact that he raised her and put her on this banister which the cruise line might argue was not meant for young children to be sitting on?" Mr. Olympic snowboard champion Chloe Kim attended a black-tie state dinner at the White House hosted by President Biden in honor of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday. Both parents said they declined to watch the CCTV footage. It had been due to depart at 8:30 p.m. local time on the day of the tragedy. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) A grandfather who pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-story window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico was sentenced Monday to three years probation, according to justice officials. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. The grandfather accused of dropping 18-month Chloe Weigand 11 floors from the Royal . Present tense. Speaking to WSBT, Her memorial said that she weighed 4 lbs 6 oz at birth, that she spent time in neonatal intensive care and that she met a number of health challenges. At first 100% in support of the family, then after they began blaming the cruise line some negative comments appeared. The ship came to a halt and a rescue boat was sent out. The only person that fell out that window was the girl who's . This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. January 19, 2020 3:51pm. New surveillance video shown to CBS News reveals the final moments before an 18-month-old girl fell to her death off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. The Granger girls family, though, claimed in a January court filing responding to the cruise lines allegations that it would have been physically impossible for Anello to lean out of that window. READ NEXT: Disney Intern Paralyzed From the Neck Down Following Drunk Driver Crash, Chloe Wiegand Identified as Toddler Who Died Tragically on Cruise Ship, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. But security footage shared in the case showed Anello poking his head out of the window before lifting Chloe up to the open air. First published on November 21, 2019 / 7:26 AM. A week before the civil trial was to begin, Graham tossed the lawsuit. According to officials in the U.S . November 21, 2019 / 7:26 AM Because Mr. Anello had himself leaned out the window, he was well aware that the window was open. He appeared in court Wednesday and was expected back in court on Dec. 17. A toddler from Indiana, the daughter of a vacationing police officer, fell to her death Sunday, July 7, 2019. Anello has repeatedly denied knowing the window was open insisting he picked up Chloe so she could bang on the glass as she would at her older brothers hockey games. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This is a matter that should be decided by a jury, and we are confident and hopeful the appellate court will agree, Winkleman told the outlet. It may not display this or other websites correctly. He insists he's colorblind and didn't know the 11th floor window in the children's play area was open. Suspending a search is one of the most difficult decisions we have to make as first responders, and it is never made lightly.. Please enter valid email address to continue. TX - Athena Strand, 8, Abducted & Murdered By FedEx Contract Driver, Tanner Horner, Paradise, 2022 #2, NY - Ex-President Donald Trump rape accuser E. Jean Carroll, sues him for battery and defamation, Trial 25 Apr 2023, Madeleine McCann: German Prisoner Identified as Suspect, #33, UK - Nurse Lucy Letby, Faces 22 Charges - 7 Murder/15 Attempted Murder of Babies #19, Grandfather charged in girl's cruise ship death says he's colorblind, calls outcome of case "inconsequential". In a video deposition, Chloe's mother Kimberly Wiegand can be seen . For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Chloe died after falling from the 11th floor and landing on the hard, concrete surface of the Pan American dock. I'm not buying this latest excuse for SA's reckless actions. Based on the record evidence which reveals that the windows . Winkleman said Anello didn't realize there was no glass directly in front of him. Next, Mr. Anello leans down and picks Chloe up, lifting her over the wooden rail towards the open window located several feet off the deck: 6. Copyright 2020 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. "The only way that you can prove or disprove anything that Sam said is based on the video and based on his testimony Those are the only pieces of evidence you have," Winkleman said. She argues that the cruise lines latest motion neglects to tell the Court and, presumably, the authorities that there were no less than THIRTEEN CCTV video cameras in the area of the incident. So all you have is Sam's testimony, his story and the video. Sotelo described the family as being in shock. The AP reports that Salvatore Anello is under investigation. The only reasonable conclusion from the video is that Mr. Anello knew the window was open before picking up Chloe, the court papers say. According to NBC News, U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Florida tossed out the lawsuit after he found that Chloe's grandfather, Salvatore "Sam" Anello, should [] Investigators say the girl slipped from Anellos hands and plummeted to her death. New surveillance video shown to CBS News reveals the final moments before an 18-month-old girl fell to her death off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. Chloe Wiegands parentssued Royal Caribbean in December, accusing the operator of negligence in her death by allowing the 11th-floor window in the ships childrens play area to be open. Winkleman said Anello's proposed guilty plea in Chloe's death would have "little or no effect at all on the civil lawsuit," noting that Anello . In addition, the windows in question consist of greenish-tinted glass making it open and obvious where a window is open versus closed. She was playing with her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, in the childrens H2O Zone childrens water park when she fell from an open window. A reasonable person through ordinary use of his senses would have known of the dangers associated with Mr. Anellos conduct. I just cannot see how the cruise line is to blame. Royal Caribbean has been cleared of wrongdoing following a lawsuit brought on by the parents of Chloe Wiegand, a toddler who lost her life aboard the cruise ship. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Anello was aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruises Freedom of the Seas ship with family in July 2019 when the death occurred.

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