SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WTHR) — The grandfather of an Indiana toddler who fell to her death on a cruise ship is going to plead guilty to negligent homicide.
According to NBC News, Salvatore Anello is changing his plea to avoid jail time.
Their attorney says the move is in the best interest of the family and will allow them to close the difficult chapter.
The family has said the cruise line is to blame and is pushing for new rules onboard all ships.
Anello is accused of dropping 18-month-old Chloe Wiegand from an 11th floor window of a ship docked in Puerto Rico last year.
He declined his right to a jury trial on Monday.
The tragedy occurred in July 2019 as the girl from Granger, Indiana, vacationed with her family aboard the Freedom of the Seas of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Anello has said he did not know the window was open when he lifted Chloe to it so she could bang on the glass.
(The Associated Press contributed to this story, copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)