The tragic 2019 death of 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand, who fell from an open window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, has claimed another victim: the marriage of her parents, Alan and Kimberly Wiegand. After years of devastating legal battles—first against Chloe’s grandfather for negligent homicide, then in a reinstated negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean—the prolonged stress and unimaginable grief have reportedly taken their final toll, leading to the couple’s divorce. This case exposes how corporate negligence and safety failures can shatter a family long after the initial tragedy.
Story Highlights
- Alan and Kimberly Wiegand’s marriage collapsed under the weight of their daughter’s tragic death and prolonged litigation
- 18-month-old Chloe fell 150 feet through an open window on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas in July 2019
- The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the family’s negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean in 2023
- Grandfather Salvatore Anello pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and received probation
Tragedy Strikes in Children’s Play Area
On July 7, 2019, 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand plummeted 150 feet to her death from an open window aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas while docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The toddler’s grandfather, Salvatore Anello, had lifted her to what he believed was a closed window in the ship’s children’s play area so she could bang on the glass, mimicking her favorite activity at hockey games. The window was open, and Chloe fell through, creating a nightmare that would destroy multiple lives and marriages.
Parents of toddler who plunged to her death out of open cruise ship window have divorced https://t.co/1HKDBzwrMW pic.twitter.com/yv10jzY9Wo
— New York Post (@nypost) November 22, 2025
Criminal Charges and Family Devastation
Criminal charges were swiftly filed against grandfather Anello, who claimed he did not realize the window was open. He pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and received probation, a decision that further fractured the already grieving family. The Wiegands simultaneously filed a negligence lawsuit against Royal Caribbean, alleging the cruise line failed to ensure basic safety measures in areas specifically designed for children. The dual legal proceedings created immense emotional and financial strain on Alan and Kimberly Wiegand’s marriage.
Legal Battle Exposes Corporate Safety Failures
The family’s lawsuit faced initial dismissal in 2021 when a federal judge blamed the grandfather entirely for the tragedy. However, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the case in 2023, ruling that a jury should determine whether Royal Caribbean was negligent for leaving windows open in children’s areas. The appellate court noted that surveillance footage and testimony regarding industry safety standards raised legitimate questions about the cruise line’s responsibility to prevent foreseeable dangers to young passengers.
The cruise line’s defense centered on the grandfather’s actions being unforeseeable, while the family’s attorneys argued that open windows in children’s play areas represent an obvious hazard that should have been prevented through proper safety protocols and design standards.
Marriage Collapses Under Prolonged Stress
The years of legal battles, public scrutiny, and unimaginable grief have reportedly taken their final toll on the Wiegand marriage. The divorce represents another tragic consequence of the 2019 incident, demonstrating how corporate negligence and safety failures can destroy families in ways that extend far beyond the initial tragedy. The ongoing lawsuit against Royal Caribbean continues as the family seeks accountability and improved safety standards to prevent other families from experiencing similar devastating losses.
This case highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety regulations in the cruise industry, particularly regarding child protection measures. The Wiegand family’s pursuit of justice, despite their personal devastation, may establish important legal precedents that could save other children’s lives and hold cruise operators accountable for maintaining basic safety standards in family areas.
Watch the report: Grandfather Charged In Death Of Toddler Who Fell To Her Death From Cruise Ship | NBC Nightly News
