The distraught family ofChloe Wiegandhave broken their silence after the18-month-oldfell to her death through an11th floorwindow of aRoyal Caribbean cruise shipinSan Juan,Puerto Ricoon Sunday.
Indiana-born Chloe, the daughter ofSouth BendPolice Officer Alan Wiegandhis wifeKimberly, was said to be enjoying thechildren's play areaon theFreedom of the Seaswhen she slipped from hergrandfather's armsthrough anopen window, falling more than 10 stories onto the concrete of the PanAmericanII dock in the Puerto Rican capital.
But the Wiegand family's attorney Michael Winkleman has disputed the initial claims, telling the Today Show Chloe's maternal grandfather Salvatore Anello sat her on the ledge of the window in the play area with the belief it was safely locked.
WATCH this video for updates on the tragic death:
Speaking on theAmericanbreakfast TV show, Mr Winkleman recounted the family's version of thetragic accident.
"Essentially, her grandfather lifts her up and puts her on a railing, and where he thinks that there is glass there because it's clear, it turns out there was no glass there.
"She goes to bang on the glass like she would have at one of thosehockey rinks[where she watched herbrother's hockey games], and thenext thingyou know, she's gone."
Mr Winkleman said theWiegand familybelieve theRoyal Caribbean cruiselineis criminally negligent and responsible for Chloe's death.
"Why in the world would you leave a window open in anentire glasswall of windowsin akid's area?" thefamily's lawyerasked.
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"I mean, why would you have that kind ofhidden dangerwithout any warning, without any sign, without any notice?
"I do think there is going to be blame,significant blameon thecruise line... I will do everything I can to hold them accountable for what appears to me to be negligence."
On Monday, passengers aboard theFreedom of the Seasrecalled hearing a deep cry of pain from Chloe's motherKimberly.
"We heard the screams of the families because we were close," a witness toldSan Juan'sTelemundo PR.
"A scream of pain, of that nature. It does not compare to any other scream."
Royal Caribbeanissued a statement saying they were "deeply saddened" by the news.
Puerto Ricopolice are investigating the accident to find out whether the window was always left open or if it had been opened by a passenger.
Alice MurphyAlice Murphy is a freelance journalist and self-professed news addict. Originally from Ireland, Alice is on a mission to visit every country in the world (telling stories along the way). She is most commonly found eating sushi, drinking strong coffee and reading horoscopes.