The grandfather who dropped his 18-month old grandaughter to her death on a cruise ship in Puerto Rico was offered a plea deal in her fatal fall, according to a report.
Salvatore “Sam” Anello appeared in San Juan court Tuesday on charges of negligent homicide in the death of granddaughter Chloe Wiegand, CBS News reported.
The grandfather had raised Chloe up to an open window on the cruise ship’s 11th floor before she fell to her death.
His lawyer, Jose Perez, said that his client was offered a plea deal, but that he would rather clear his name, CBS reported.
“It’s firm that he is innocent and he does not want to plea,” Perez said, though added his client would still mull over the offer, according to the report.
The deal would include no jail time, Perez said.
Anello has claimed that he was unaware the window was open and blamed the ship for not having warning signs.