Theyve remained steadfastly by Anellos side during the ordeal, although Anello previously pleaded guilty to negligent homicide in the case. That means the staff reads them and decides which comments to publish, rather than simply publishing all of the comments. The only reasonable conclusion from the video is that Mr. Anello knew the window was open before picking up Chloe. "There were no eye witnesses. According to NBC News, U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Florida tossed out the lawsuit finding that Anello should have known there was an open window on the vessel. A toddler from Indiana, the daughter of a vacationing police officer, fell to her death Sunday, July 7, 2019. Anello previously told "CBS This Morning" that his colorblindness prevented him from telling that he was holding his granddaughter up to an open window, rather than a pane of glass. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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". From my point of view, at the moment the accident happened, it was as if this wall of protective glass disappeared. Investigators say the girl slipped from Anellos hands and plummeted to her death. 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. Chloe Wiegand's parents announce lawsuit against Royal Caribbean in I wasnt drinking and I wasnt dangling her out of a window. You are using an out of date browser. Salvatore Sam Anello, of Valparaiso, Indiana, had pleaded guilty in the case in October 2020. We've received your submission. 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. The Plaintiffs have provided no evidence showing the Defendant was on notice of that danger.. Wiegand fell to her death at around 5 p.m. Facebook/Salvatore AnelloChloe Wiegands grandfather Salvatore Anello pictured on his Facebook page. This is something that was a preventable accidentThese windows are entirely not compliant with the standard for windows on cruise ships.. Her grandfather was holding her at the time while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico. And as these photographs and the photos included in the Complaint show, the window was several feet off the deck. Elmer Roman of the Puerto Rican Department of Public Security told Primera Hora in Puerto Rico that the scene was very grave and very regrettable and tragic. While Anthony Maceira, Puerto Ricos Secretary for Public Affairs, wrote in a tweet via Twitter Translate, Unfortunately, the news of a babys accident on a cruise ship is true. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. When the incident first happened, stories would have thousands of replies, most skeptical of the claims against the cruise line. Begnaud asked. During the deposition, however, Kimberly admitted that she initially screamed at her stepfather, Anello, and accused him of killing his granddaughter. There are two closed-circuit television cameras which captured the events leading to the fall. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. IN - Grandfather charged in cruise ship death of toddler Chloe Wiegand 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. ). I had my hands on her the whole time.. JavaScript is disabled. And were just mourning with him., Falls from cruise ships are not unusual. Chloe died after falling from the 11th floor and landing on the hard, concrete surface of the Pan American dock. He said, no. 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. The following argument was filed by Royal Caribbean Cruises and comes directly from the court documents filed on January 8, 2020 in the United States District Court of Southern Florida. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. By, Toddler dies after falling from cruise ship. Wonderful, just, would do anything for you. 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 . In a statement, the company said, Weve made our Care Team available to assist the family with any resources they need. He told me if he wanted me to, he would explain in detail what happened. When he arrives at the open window, and while Chloe is on the floor, Mr. Anello leans his upper-torso over the wooden railing and out of the window frame for approximately eight seconds: 3. Powered by. Facebook/Alan Wiegand The Daily Mail published a new photo of Chloe a couple of days ago and they said " This is the final haunting photo of tragic Chloe Weigand The bitter-sweet image obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com". 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. Mother of Chloe Wiegand describes breaking down during video deposition 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.. Chloe Wiegand died because of her grandfather's foolish mistake, not because of the cruise line. 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. . They had boarded the ship in Puerto Rico. 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 still shots taken from the videos show: 1. 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. November 21, 2019 / 7:26 AM Doctor on cruise ship recalls finding toddler's body after her Similarly, Plaintiffs were not aware that Mr. Anello held Chloe by the open window, which was flanked by tinted and reflective glass and open to the outside light, air and noise, for thirty four seconds.. Her parents sued the cruise line. There was no "hidden danger" Mr. Anello knew the window was open. So all you have is Sam's testimony, his story and the video. Kimberly Wiegand said during the deposition she hadnt yet watched the video because she couldnt bring herself to do 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. Based on the record evidence which reveals that the windows surrounding the subject window were tinted; that Mr. Anello reached out in front of him and felt no glass in the window opening before extending the Decedent out to the window opening; that this incident took place on the 11th deck of the Defendants vessel, Graham wrote. At first 100% in support of the family, then after they began blaming the cruise line some negative comments appeared. GF is a piece of work! 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 . Federal judge rules Royal Caribbean isn't responsible for death of IndyStar. A lawyer for the Wiegand family bashed the cruise line over the weekend for releasing the footage, claiming that the video released from the fatal episode was deceptive, WTHR reported. 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 video contradicts Plaintiffs' version of events and leaves no room to . US District Court Judge Donald Graham of the Southern District of Florida threw out the lawsuit filed by Wiegand's parents on Tuesday before it could go to trial in Florida. "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. So the last 2 stories, one by Winkleman about the video, and one with the CBS tape, have only shown a couple hundred replies each, most expressing great sympathy for the step grandfather with a much smaller number saying that the cruise line is not at fault. 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. We will be filing the appeal shortly and we will continue to fight and raise awareness about the dangers of unintentional toddler window falls. Video shows grandfather dangle Chloe Wiegand before fatal fall on Chloe Wiegand's grandfather accidentally dropped the 18-month-old through an open window of the ship docked in San Juan in July 2019. The grieving mother said it took her three months to speak to him again. 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. Chloe died after falling from the 11th floor and landing on the hard, concrete surface of the Pan American dock. 7. Cruise ship death: Video shows moments before toddler Chloe Wiegand Chloe Wiegand was being held by her grandfather Salvatore Anello while the ship was docked in Puerto Rico in July. He said Chloe slipped from his grip and her death was an accident. On July 4, a crew member on board the Carnival Victory ship fell overboard 30 miles northwest of Cuba. The ship will return to Puerto Rico on July 14. Chloe's grandfather, Salvatore Anello, has been charged in Puerto Rico with negligent homicide. Witnesses say she was taking a selfie during rough seas when she plunged overboard. He leaned over behind her and she slipped off the narrow window sill with the metal track. Winkleman said Anellos proposed guilty plea in Chloes death would have little or no effect at all on the civil lawsuit, noting that Anello is not a party to that case. A 1-year-old girl from Indiana apparently slipped from her grandfather's hands and fell to her death from the 11th story of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico, police said Monday. The ship came to a halt and a rescue boat was sent out. I found a tw it ter account for a family member and it is interesting to see the comments. Parents of northern Indiana girl who plunged to death on cruise ship 3d 1348, see flags on bad law, and search Casetext's comprehensive legal database All State & Fed. Anello, 51,has insisted that he did not know the window was openwhen he lifted Chloe up to it, saying he did so to allow her to bang on the glass like she did at her brothers hockey games. If Grandpa is really color blind, and that's what caused him to think the window was closed, why didn't that come out from the start? 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. Chloe Wiegand fell to her death in July after her grandfather lifted her to the window on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas ship while the vessel docked. He appeared in court Wednesday and was expected back in court on Dec. 17. Anello then picked Chloe up and lifted her "over the wooden rail towards the open window," it says. Judge throws out family's case against Royal Caribbean after Chloe The Wiegand familys attorney, Michael Winkleman, previously saidthat the Freedom of the Seas ship didnt meet industry safety standards. Toddler falls to death on Royal Caribbean cruise ship: What we know 0:00. Speaking to WSBT, Anellos supervisor said, Well Sal works in the IT department, hes a very valuable employee. The grandfather accused of dropping 18-month Chloe Weigand 11 floors from the Royal . 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? Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-story window, pleaded guilty in the case in October 2020, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Speaking to WSBT, 'You killed Chloe!': Mom of tot who fell 11 floors aboard cruise ship 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. Jackie Salo. 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 [] 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. Not sure what else the motivation would be of someone giving it to the tabloid. Chloe Wiegand: Lawsuit Tossed Out After Grandfather Dangles Tot From Begnaud asked Winkleman. 5. A man attorneys said is Anello is seen following her. [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. How did he know that there was glass?" Kimberly Wiegand, the mother of 1-year-old Chloe, was on a cruise with family members when her daughter lost her life aboard Royal Caribbeans Freedom of the Seas cruise ship. 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. 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. ", 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 documents filed by Royal Caribbean claim Anello's actions were captured on two separate video surveillance cameras, which were previously unreleased. Updated. 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. If so, that would be the motivation to do it. Chloe Wiegand fell to her July 8 death from Royal Caribbean Cruises Freedom of the Seas ship, which was docked in Puerto Rico. Judge dismisses Granger family's lawsuit against Royal Caribbean US District Court Judge Donald Graham of the Southern District of Florida threw out the lawsuit filed by Wiegand's parents on Tuesday before it could go to trial in Florida. The ship was docked in Puerto Rico at the time of the incident, on July 7, 2019. He also said his colorblindness prevented him from distinguishing between glass and free air, according to The Daily Mail. One of the voices to emerge in the last week belongs to Dr. Marcel Alexander Armand Van Drunick, the cruise ship doctor who . 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 Aftel for The New York Times. Chloe Wiegand's family sues Royal Caribbean over toddler's cruise ship Within minutes, Chloe fell. If it was 'obtained exclusively by Daily Mail", it is possible that it was sold to them. Doctor's Statement Reveals New Details in Cruise Death | CafeMom.com Royal Caribbean cleared of negligence in toddler Chloe Wiegand's 2019 death "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?" 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. 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.
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