A former Philly medic is charged with stealing from a dead woman
Gary Robb, 41, is accused of taking money from 72-year-old Nanette Santilli's wallet during a medic response to a Center City apartment.
A former Philadelphia Fire Department medic has been charged with stealing money from a 72-year-old woman who had been pronounced dead during the response to an apartment in Center City last year, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Friday.
Gary Robb, 41, was charged in early December with misdemeanor theft and related crimes.
A spokesperson for the fire department declined to comment on the case except to say that Robb no longer worked for the department.
Robb could not be reached for comment Friday night.
On Oct. 16, Robb was part of a medic response to an apartment building on the 1300 block of Lombard Street and encountered an unresponsive person who was later pronounced dead, Krasner said.
The person who died was identified as Nanette Santilli by her niece, Nicolette Santilli Holt, 28, of Philadelphia.
A video camera inside the home recorded Robb removing money from the dead person’s wallet and placing the money in his jacket pocket, the DA said.
“The alleged incident is an egregious misuse of power,” Krasner said in a statement.
“The men and women of the Philadelphia Fire Department are trusted public servants, and nothing alleged here diminishes the importance or integrity of their work. We will aggressively pursue the facts to ensure accountability and justice,” he said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Holt in an interview Friday night described her aunt as a generous person.
“She was the absolute best: crazy, loud, loving, gentle, funny — just one of a kind ," Holt said.
“She had a voice you couldn’t miss blocks away. She always had a loud set of keys, a roll of paper towels, and a Red Bull with her big handbag,” Holt said. “Truly one of a kind and would’ve helped anyone, so to see someone take advantage is a shame.”