Shocking Tragedy Of The Baby Who Was Dropped Off Of A Cruise Ship By Grandfather Salvatore Anello

On July 8th, 2019 Salvatore "Sam" Anello dropped his 18-month-old step-grandaughter off of the 11th deck of the Royal Caribbean Freedoms Of The Seas. After his granddaughter fell, Chloe Wiegand tragically died.
Kimberly and Alan Wiegand, the parents of Chloe filed two lawsuits against Royal Caribbean while the grandfather faced criminal charges. The public's opinion of this story drastically shifted over time.
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[@jadecat1987]

I think he knew the window was open and accidently dropped her. I think the mother convinced him it was the cruise ships fault as a way for them to all cope with the harsh reality.

[@darcyking14]

He knew the window was open. He outstretched his arms held her out and accidentally dropped her. The fact that the family tried to sue the cruise line is despicable

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

It was definitely neglect and not on purpose, but he also definitely LIED

[@jennaalexia8048]

I believe that he knew the window was open, but him dropping her was an accident. Then the family realized they could’ve potentially made money off of it

[@119giovanna]

Agreed!

[@amberlehouillier9218]

That's sick

[@gamingbutter5768]

How can it be an accident if he knew the window was open?

[@Andearea]

“Fixing the boat” is ridiculous. You are an ADULT. That you wrecklessley dangled a small child over a ledge that you FIRST leaned out of is a very poor excuse for what happened. Do NOT blame the cruise ship. You severely lack common sense. You had NO business putting her on that ledge. You are lacking some kind of innate sense for danger and because of this, your granddaughter lost her precious life.

[@ameliaflowers9836]

He tried to cry , but that passed quickly when he started answering the questions.

[@haroldlieberman3314]

He got off easy for negligent homicide. He was extremely reckless.

[@Mitzi73]

Intentionally too

[@Kelly-xz6nb]

Who holds a baby out of a window to begin with? I don't care if it's five feet off the ground. You don't do that with a baby.

[@mariefairie]

Michael Jackson

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

Right. Especially how toddlers wiggle a lot too

[@inkeri2741]

He leaned out of that window before and he lied multiple times. Case closed he is QUILTY

[@heidikostrey109]

And blanket-y

[@beewalk34]

His fatass was clearly seen out the window. I don't feel one ounce of sympathy for Sam. My heart goes out to the baby

[@lilrararesales270]

I ve been on one and you can’t lean out there’s a bar there. You know so people won’t use the opportunity to jump. But yeah there’s wind coming in like blowing. So you know there’s a window. I think grandpa had an accident but the lawyer saw a chance to get compensation. I just don’t understand how he got charged, if mom and dad didn’t want that.

[@sunitamosesesq]

Great video. I just want to give you some information from the lawsuit. Your photos from the lawyer are correct. There is a gap between the bar and the window. And the measured distance of that gap was an astonishing 18 inches! So he truly lifted her and hoisted her up and over that bar, with extended arms, and held her out of the window. The behavior of this step-grandfather and the family in the wake of this tragedy, is one of the most reprehensible things I've ever seen.

[@Mad4930]

He sticks his head and torso out the window for 8 seconds then he lifts poor Chloe up and over the railing with his left hand and dangles her there for 34 seconds, premeditated and people should be in jail, after seeing the video I can say he is full of lies the liar I mean lawyer says the ship is unsafe but only one child was tossed out like trash in her 13 years of sailing.

[@joycelow2667]

@Arthur Doty, In that case the grandfather clearly something wrong with his behavior. If my dad carry my kids up that hight near a balcony then he will never allowed again to come close to my baby ever. So sickening behavior without thinking of her granddaughter safety.

[@cyberspelunker1980]

I agree. I think we tend to give people a benefit of the doubt thinking they think like us. He’s either evil or very clueless and irresponsible. No responsible caring adult would dare put a baby in this dangerous of a predicament.

[@mariachi031676]

He knew the window was open obviously. He wasn't thinking at all and did something negligent and lifted her and dropped her unintentionally. He exercised horrible judgement.

[@learobinson4450]

Family is despicable. Their baby is dead & they’re biggest concern is making money off her death. Her step granddad bent at the waist over the tail & stuck his head out the window. I measured myself from my waist to my eyes & the distance is 21”. The gap between the rail & the window is 18” so he knew the window was open. The top half of his head was out of it. Even if he didn’t stick his head out the window anyone with 1/2 a brain could hear that the noise from the dock is clear, not muted & feel the breeze coming through the open window. I lived next to the ocean for 2 yrs & there is always a breeze. He knew that window was open yet he lifted that baby up & over the safety rail & dangled her out the window. If she was sitting or standing on the rail then she would have fallen between it & the glass under the window onto the floor. And since this is the only incident of a baby or toddler falling to their death out of an open cruise ship window I say the safety precautions already in place are very effective. For the family to blame the cruise line & say that it failed to have adequate signs & safety measures is ludicrous. The rail was the warning & safety measure & that precious little girl would still be alive if that fool hadn’t lifted her over it. I have considered that this was all planned in order to sue the cruise line & collect millions. As horrible as it is to think that parents & grandparents would be wiling to kill a child for money it isn’t out of the realm of possibility. And IF they did do it on purpose then it only makes sense that the one adult on the cruise who was not a blood relative of the any of the others was the one who was responsible for the baby’s death. Let step-grandpa do the dirty work & take the fall while the others cash in. The only thing they didn’t count on was the cruise line not settling the lawsuit because there was video footage of the whole incident. Occam’s razor says this was a tragic accident but you can’t discount the slim chance that it was all planned.

[@bretmathews7534]

I agree to this

[@plspriska]

I never will understand people hanging their kids over rails and out of windows. People do this all the time. Over alligator enclosures, off balconies. WTF?

[@PoipoleEntertainment1987]

I believed that it was an accident that she fell, but the Grandpa was at fault after the footage was released, he did know that the window was open after the video showed him looking out the window and than he carried the baby over the railing. It’s outrageous that the family tried to sue the cruise line and made the cruise line look like it was there fault, but than the interview came and his side of the story started not to make sense. He said he didn’t know the window was open and that he was colorblind, but he looked out of the railing for several seconds which could have given him plenty of time to realize that the window was open

[@Juhani139]

Watch his video interview on mute. I don't see tears.

[@Mad4930]

Lets sue the cruise line Lets go on tour and get support for our cause Video is released Lets shut up and say the video is damming to our cause

[@kathrynoneill5862]

She shouldn't have let the baby alone with her dad. I can't believe he is 50 he looks 70 so he was of right mind just really being stupid. My brother is 50 he looks 35 I just can't get over how old this guy looks. It can be prevented just don't me stupid.

[@luised95]

I feel like he knew the window was open. He wanted her to hang, kind of like thrill seeking but then he accidentally dropped her and in a way for the family to not make him feel guilty they went as far as suing the company to get some guilt out of him. The family probably made him believe it wasn’t all his fault. Kinda like that friend someone has that no matter what you do they’ll always look for excuses to not make it your fault.

[@smalltownbeatnik]

I just don’t understand what his motive would be. I think it was just a stupid, stupid thing to do and unfortunately it resulted in the loss of this child’s life. The child’s mom is an attorney so in her grief her immediate knee-jerk response is to sue. That’s just my opinion.

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

Right i don't think it was on purpose. It was very stupid move...repeatedly

[@plspriska]

Agreed. Men do stupid reckless things. Lawyers have no scruples and will sue for anything

[@joycelow2667]

This is a horrible tragic. But no one would carry their toddlers kid on the arm and lean towards the glass especially that high in a cruise ship window. RIP.

[@infantrygrunt44]

Obviously you're wrong about that. Bc Sal was just carrying her like that.

[@infantrygrunt44]

@Anne Woodward Well he said "no one" which isn't technically accurate. Because we all saw Sal in the video. Am I wrong, Corky?

[@Hardcorecults]

His hesitations to a couple specific questions during the interview tells me he did the wrong thing but was trying to cover it up. When asked how he was holding the child, his answer to “ was it a bear hug? “ Yeah, at one point…From what I can remember..” 😏

[@beatrizt953]

So he had to walk over THAT PARTICULAR window.

[@number36420]

Just a dumb old man holding a little girl out a window for a thrill and to play. He dropped her, molded a story and that’s that. Glad footage came out.

[@loribrosen]

This smells funny. PeriodT.

[@adrienne4091]

I believe he thought "wow, someone could easily fall from this window and sue" I really can't fathom sticking my head out a balcony and then tossing a toddler up to said balcony. And if my some horrific chance I ever saw a toddler fall from a balcony I would be screaming or panicked. Grandpa just seemed way too unphased.

[@Ash_jade25]

I think it was an accident but I think that he knew about the glass and that he was being reckless holding a child over a rail

[@Mitzi73]

If he knew about the glass there was no accident.

[@isabellavalencia8026]

We see him lean out the window so he knew it was open....he picked her up and put her out the window....this is his step grand daughter btw....he did this neglegently

[@jayd2655]

It was an accidental negligence and that 50 y/o man (that looks 68) should have been given prison time. The family was probably talked into the lawsuit by their attorney who saw nothing but cash opportunity. It was a tragedy of massive proportion but the cruise liner bear no responsibility based on the video.

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

And her mom is a lawyer and dad a police

[@ericareyes1173]

The music in the background when the grandpa was talking gave me flashbacks to Shane Dawson.... 😭😭

[@valenciareza7552]

Are u sure this men is 50 looks like 65 to me...

[@hannahraedobre]

The 1000% lied and became outed once the footage became available. He looked out the window, figured she wouldn’t land below and dropped her

[@emilia9863]

i came from tiktok i love your videos !

[@Dr.Ryanmd]

Tysm!

[@dd4850]

I don’t think he did it on purpose. I think he wasn’t thinking correctly and wrongfully assumed she was safe on the railing. I can’t believe it was on purpose because there’s a lack of motif

[@patstokes7040]

His bad judgement causedthe death of anther. That is manslaughter. So what if it's an accident, he killed her regardless. You talk like accidence that lead to death should have No consequence

[@MichelleCallahan]

I don't think he consciously dropped her but I don't think he knows why.

[@christyl5481]

What’s worst than losing your baby is lying for the rest of your life to avoid negligence. Having that on your conscious the rest of your life should be worse. It ridiculous people sue when they were in the wrong. And yes I think he we under the influence.

[@user-jw7xx1tp1x]

I love your tiktoks and this is even better because its longer😭

[@Dr.Ryanmd]

Thank you so much! Much more to come on here

[@dianedahy1756]

Lawyers always sue, nothing New. But grandpa shady as hell.

[@keithmahoney8699]

I was on the freedom of the seas a month ago I spent a lot of time on Deck 11 poor little girl

[@queentargaryen]

He looks like he is really grieving the death of his granddaughter, to me it looks real. I believe he saw the open window thought, hey look out how high up we are and accidentally dropped her. Super dangerous obviously negligence on his part but ultimately accidental.

[@Mitzi73]

Didn’t you see the video? He didn’t see the open window. He put half his body through it before lifting the child.

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

9:04 with Chloé mom being a lawyer, that question was definitely prepared for him to initially say him and include "BUT" and that's when he had to say the ship

[@brittanyharrington6952]

I feel so bad 😔😔

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

If granddad had sickness or whatnot, then the parents are negligent for leaving their baby alone with him knowing he had health issues. I don't think thats it

[@j.z.j.1559]

As tragic as this is, he stuck half of his body outside the window before he lifted her up. I think he was negligent and reckless which resulted in her death. No reasonable person would do that. I don't believe he intentionally killed her but how could he not know the window was open when he stuck half of his body out on the video. Also, I hope all cruise ships lock all of those windows going forward or only have them open towards you at a higher level. People get stupid on vacation but he was negligent in my opinion.

[@littlelips7380]

Of course it was an accident. But he wasn’t willing to admit he made a poor judgement choice. It was an accident, then they saw an opportunity to sue.

[@TheRoosje1964]

I do not even finish watching this video because it makes me very angry. How dare people to think that he did it on purpose? Really? He never ment it to go this way. By that age the kida are very kicky and wild. He indeed held the kid for her to look outside better but the kid got excited and he could not hold the child because she sliped out of his hands. If you see on all other video's how he loved the girl and played all the time with her that maybe you will understand. I bet everything on him that he did never ment for her to fall. It's very painful to see how he's being punished and not even gets a chance to grief how he suposed to. This is my opinion but respect every one's own.

[@gamingbutter5768]

In regards to the parents suing for awareness, big companies will not change or take notice unless you hit them where it hurts most and that is the pocketbook but this is before social media and the court of public opinion. They were wrong to sue. A railing on its own is a sign. It's not an elbow rest. I do think they believe money was owed to them for the loss.

[@amberlehouillier9218]

You people are sick! This family is devastated it was a tragedy of course they wanna sue they feel like they need to blame someone

[@sandracandelas2001]

Why would someone just do that though. I would never do that for money, fuck that

[@sunshineproductions4122]

What was the final outcome? Was her body recovered?

[@LindaHer-cq8qe]

He was tired of babysitting. And his anger did what he did.

[@AntonDogg]

He HAD to have known the window was open as he'd have felt the breeze. I do feel it was an accident, but I don't feel he told the truth about the window.

[@I_am_BiG_Al]

I would of jumped in after her

[@artdoty9280]

After the video was released, he changed his story, million of cruisers on thousands of ships and one step grandad throws a baby out a open window for a money grab, rest in peace Chloe.

[@Mad4930]

I cannot believe he murdered this child in front of all those people, rest in peace little girl, somebody should be in jail.

[@LC-qv7bv]

I don’t think the panels should be able to open because this random open/ closed pattern can be confusing to anyone, tint or no tint. Keep the design consistent to avoid any confusion.

[@alybanana415]

Or common sense should tell people to never dangle a baby 100ft in the air out a window. Building, boat, it doesn’t matter.

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

I don't think it was confusing. His entire top half of his body was out the window over 5 secs repeatedly

[@lilahmorrison9553]

I don’t think he did it on purpose I feel bad for the parents though you can see their pain there’s no way they were in on this you can tell but I do think he knew the window was open and giving her a view but I don’t think he dropped her on purpose probably no parental instincts if he has no biological kids

[@Dr.Ryanmd]

Thanks for watching-it’s definitely an unfortunate story and I agree

[@kristinm784]

I’m sad for him He loved Chloe It was obvious ❤

[@Mitzi73]

Didn’t you see the video? He intentionally dropped her.

[@demon6862]

THIS IS REALLY INTETAINNING KEEP DOING IT

[@Dr.Ryanmd]

Thank you! I’m going to keep posting regularly here on KZbin 🙂

[@Maria___1__10]

@@Dr.Ryanmd start a podcast!!

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

I don't think it was set up

[@mystictings4072]

Negligent granddad, he didn’t do it purposely. Truly sad

[@InkedUpBarbiee]

I don't think it was set up

[@unicornpoo5764]

Vocal fry ffs!

[@aprilarellano5562]

Well said

[@Maria___1__10]

start avpodcast!!

[@infantrygrunt44]

This kinda reminded me of the lady who drives thru McDonald's for coffee. She does this for years. Then she spills it in her lap and burns herself pretty bad. Then sues McDonald's and wins for a couple million. SMH

[@infantrygrunt44]

@Anne Woodward Since youre unable to see how they're similar, Ill now refer to you as Corky. Both of their imprudent actions caused bodily harm/loss of life. Then turn around and sue because of their own negligence. It's their OWN fault. Get it now Corky?

[@soveryumble7250]

Liebeck? She was completely in the right. She also did not win "millions"(even though she really should have). Let's see: -79-year old woman who suffered third degree burns that left her disabled for two years thanks to McDonald's serving their coffee at scalding heat(20 degrees celsius above ANY other coffee-serving place in that town) and left her with a reduced quality of life for the rest of her life (she died at 91). -Liebeck tries to settle with McDonalds for about $20,000, roughly the sum her medical treatment and her daughter's loss of income(because she would have to take time off from work to take care off her mother) would total. McDonald's refuses, only offering a piddly $800. Only after this does things start to escalate. -When McDonald's refused to raise their offer, Texas attorney Reed Morgan filed a lawsuit on Liebeck's behalf, accusing McDonald's of Gross Negligence. He offered McDonald's another chance to settle, this time at $90,000 -McDonald's claimed the reason their coffee was so hot it was dangerous was because their customers were primarily commuters, who wanted to drive for a while, allowing the coffee time to cool. However, it was discovered that McDonald's had carried out reasearch that proved most customers drank it almost immediately. -It also came to light that McDonalds had settled over 700 cases of scalding in only 10 years, so they knew it was a hazard. -The final sum that the judge ended up on was $640,000(well below a million), about half of what McDonald's coffee brought in as revenue during ONE DAY at the time. McDonalds and Liebeck's attorneys both appealed this decision, but settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. McDonald's could and should have settled with $20,000, they would have gotten away almost scot-free if they did. Instead they were arrogant and greedy.

[@jaebee7739]

@@soveryumble7250thank you for this comment. The misinformation people to this day believe, shows the power of the media. They villanized an elderly women who was served coffee hot enough to kill someone.

[@houseofpets1572]

The cruise ship should had seal those window . Especially when you up a 150 feet high.

[@melanaellis9766]

Okay story aside: that’s cruised ship is kinda negligent for having windows probably 3 feet up in the air ON A KIDS LEVEL.

[@lilahmorrison9553]

They should definitely change it there was one window up above it that could be used for ventilation I was looking at pictures they had tables by the open window in some pictures a kid could have easily climbed on the table and fell out it was stupid he held her out but we know people aren’t the smartest and people should safety proof so high up on a kids level look at all the cases of kids falling in zoo exhibits and what not

[@mr_spookypants]

You’re such a good story teller. Subscribed!

[@Dr.Ryanmd]

Tysm! Much more to come!