Grandfather pleads guilty in Chloe Wiegand cruise ship death

Chloe Wiegand died after she fell from the 11th-storey window of the ship. Photo / Supplied

A grandfather accused in the fatal fall of his young granddaughter from an 11th-storey window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico last year pleaded guilty Thursday to negligent homicide.

Salvatore "Sam" Anello of Valparaiso, Indiana, said earlier this year that he would drop a not-guilty plea to help end what he called "this nightmare" for his family. Eighteen-month-old Chloe Wiegand slipped from his grasp and fell about 45m from an open window of Royal Caribbean Cruises' Freedom of the Seas ship in July 2019.

Puerto Rico prosecutor Laura Hernández said Anello would be sentenced December 10.

"We have found justice for Chloe," she said.

The window on the left is the one Chloe fell through while being held against the railing by her grandfather. This photograph was taken by Chloe's father after the accident. Photo / Supplied

Chloe Wiegand died after she fell from the 11th-storey window of the ship. Photo / Supplied

Defense attorney Michael Winkleman said in a statement that Anello will not face any jail time and that he will serve probation in Indiana.

"This decision was an incredibly difficult one for Sam and the family, but because the plea agreement includes no jail time and no admission of facts, it was decided the plea deal is in the best interests of the family so that they can close this horrible chapter and turn their focus to mourning Chloe and fighting for cruise passenger safety," he said.

Anello, 51, has repeatedly said he did not know the window in the children's play area was open and that he lifted Chloe up to it so she could knock on the glass like she had done at her brother's hockey games.

"I wasn't drinking and I wasn't dangling her out of a window," he said in a previous statement. He said he is colourblind and might not have realised the tinted window was open.

Salvatore Anello with his granddaughter Chloe Wiegand. Photo / Supplied

The girl's parents sued Royal Caribbean last year and accused the company of negligence. In response, Royal Caribbean said that surveillance video shows Anello leaning out the window for about eight seconds before lifting the girl by and out of the open window for 34 seconds before he lost his grip. The family said it would have been physically impossible for Anello to lean out like that.

The civil case is ongoing.

Royal Caribbean did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

- Associated Press