Royal Caribbean says they have both video and still shots that proves that the grandfather knew the window was open on one of the upper decks of the Freedom of the Seas when the toddler fell to her death recently.
ACJ.com reports, “Attorneys for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. state the video shows that Chloe Wiegand’s grandfather, Salvatore Anello, had himself leaned over a wooden railing and toward an open window of a Deck 11 venue on board the ship moments before picking up his granddaughter, “lifting her over the wooden rail towards the open window located several feet off the deck.”
Chloe fell from Anello’s grasp to her death below as the cruise ship was docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in July 2019. Anello, who has been charged in Puerto Rico with negligent homicide, claims he is colorblind and did not know the window was open. He said he thought he was lifting his granddaughter so that she could bang on the glass. “
Speaking as a grandfather of 2 grandsons under the age of 3, I feel the grandfather has been punished enough by the death of little Chloe. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Chloe’s birthday for years to come will be a reminder of this tragedy. Jail time for this grandpa will not bring Chloe back.
In addition, this incident serves as a warning to others to take extra care when traveling with small kids.
I get it that the grandpa was trying to have fun on his cruise vacation with Chloe. I don’t sense in my gut that he was maliciously holding her over the side of the ship.
I remember the media outrage with Steve Irwin would hold his little baby during dangerous animal encounters. Steve didn’t have a malicious bone in his body! I personally feel that the grandpa was having fun with his granddaughter and tragedy struck. Should he have been more careful, you bet. Should he go to jail, nope.
Click on the link below for the full story and feel free to share your comments.
Scott Lara, #TheCruiseGenius
