Family members say condo video shows an on-duty responder removing money after a death was declared in October.
PHILADELPHIA — City prosecutors have charged former Philadelphia Fire Department EMT Gary Robb, 41, with misdemeanor counts after he allegedly took cash from 72-year-old Nanette Santilli’s wallet in her Center City condominium in October. The arrest occurred in December, and officials publicly addressed the case this week as relatives described surveillance footage from inside the residence.
The case matters now because it intersects criminal allegations with public confidence in emergency services. District Attorney Larry Krasner called the conduct an abuse of trust if proven. Fire officials confirmed Robb is no longer employed by the department but offered no further personnel details. Court filings this week listed no defense attorney for Robb, and attempts to contact him were unsuccessful. Santilli’s relatives said she died of natural causes and that building security video was promptly provided to investigators shortly after the family recognized irregularities.
Relatives described a straightforward timeline: medics arrived, death was declared, and the home was secured as family members and building staff moved in and out of the hallway. Later, while managing Santilli’s affairs, the family reviewed footage from an interior camera and said it showed an EMT handling a wallet and removing cash. The amount was not disclosed. “It’s a betrayal of trust,” said the victim’s nephew, Vincent Giorgio, explaining that the clip also appeared to capture the responder acknowledging the camera before the alleged theft. Giorgio said a brief exchange outside a subsequent court date left the family feeling there was no remorse.
Krasner said the allegations involve a government employee in uniform having lawful access to a private residence and then misusing that access. He emphasized that charges are accusations and that the case will be tested in court, but he also said positions of trust require rigorous accountability. Prosecutors announced three misdemeanor counts, including theft. A conviction, he said, could carry a sentence measured in years, depending on how a judge structures any penalty. The office did not release a charging document detailing the exact cash total. The fire department confirmed Robb’s separation from city employment and said any internal reviews proceed independently from the criminal case.
Scene protocols for home deaths typically involve coordination among medics, police and the medical examiner’s office, with property left for lawful heirs or documented for safekeeping. Building staff in Center City said it is routine for high-rise residences to have cameras covering lobbies, elevators and some unit interiors at owners’ discretion. In this case, relatives said the internal camera captured enough detail to raise concerns and to turn the recording over to authorities. Neighbors described a steady parade of first responders and family in the hallway that day, punctuated by brief radio traffic and the quiet roll of a stretcher that was ultimately not used.
The legal steps ahead include a court listing where prosecutors can summarize evidence and defense counsel—if retained—can respond to the accusations. As of Friday, a specific hearing time had not been made public. Prosecutors said they expect to rely on the family’s video and testimony from responders who were present. Robb, who is presumed innocent, had not issued a public statement. Krasner said a conviction would not automatically bar the defendant from applying for first responder jobs elsewhere, but he expects agencies to scrutinize any application closely. He added that he believes positions that enter private homes require “extreme care with people’s property,” as he put it this week.
At Santilli’s building, a concierge pointed to a sign reminding residents that “public areas are monitored by video.” A resident who asked to be identified only as Karen said she had seen medics at the tower before for routine calls and was surprised by the allegations. “You hope everyone who comes through that door is there to help,” she said. In the lobby, Giorgio paused near a small flower arrangement left by neighbors. “We’re just constantly reliving this,” he said, describing a family balancing grief with court schedules and paperwork.
Prosecutors said the case remains active. The next expected milestone is a preliminary hearing date to be placed on the court calendar, followed by decisions on what evidence can be shown in open court. Officials said updates will be released once a judge sets the schedule.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.