Prosecutors say the wallet of 72-year-old Nanette Santilli was emptied after she was pronounced dead in her Center City home.
PHILADELPHIA — A former Philadelphia Fire Department emergency medical technician, identified by prosecutors as Gary Robb, 41, has been charged after he allegedly took cash from a deceased woman’s wallet while responding to a medical call in Center City in October. The arrest came in December, and the case surfaced publicly this week through statements from the victim’s family and the district attorney’s office.
Officials said the incident matters because it challenges public trust in first responders invited into private homes at critical moments. The woman, 72-year-old Nanette Santilli, died of natural causes in her condominium, according to relatives. Prosecutors filed three misdemeanor counts, including theft. District Attorney Larry Krasner called the case an abuse of position, noting the accused entered the home under government authority to provide medical care. The Philadelphia Fire Department said Robb is no longer employed there. Court records listed no attorney for him as of this week, and efforts to reach him were not successful.
Relatives said the episode unfolded on a fall day in October, when Santilli was found unresponsive inside her Center City condo. Emergency crews responded and pronounced her dead. Family members later reviewed home surveillance and said footage appeared to show an EMT handling Santilli’s belongings. In interviews, Santilli’s nephew, Vincent Giorgio, said he confronted Robb outside a subsequent court appearance and did not hear remorse. “It’s a betrayal of trust, especially to the family,” Giorgio said, adding that the discovery left them replaying the moments after their loved one’s death. The family said the same video also shows Robb acknowledging a camera in the home before the alleged theft.
Prosecutors identified the EMT as Robb and said he served with the Philadelphia Fire Department at the time. They said he was arrested in December and charged with three misdemeanors, including theft. Krasner said the allegations, if proven, involve cash taken from a wallet that should have remained with the estate. He described the conduct as “an abuse of a position of trust,” emphasizing the uniformed access first responders have to private spaces. The fire department confirmed Robb is no longer employed but declined additional comment on personnel matters. Prosecutors said Robb did not have a lawyer listed in court filings this week. Attempts to reach him at a Philadelphia address drew no response.
Records cited by prosecutors place the incident in October in a Center City high-rise. The family said Santilli died of natural causes. They said they turned the video over to authorities, which they believe depicts money being removed from her wallet after she was pronounced. The precise amount of cash was not disclosed. Officials stressed that the charges are misdemeanors; no felony counts were announced. Krasner said that while a conviction would not automatically bar Robb from future first responder work, he expects hiring agencies to conduct careful reviews if he seeks a similar job. The district attorney estimated a possible sentencing exposure of roughly three to six years if the court imposes consecutive time across counts, though actual penalties would be up to a judge.
The case comes as city leaders spotlight standards for emergency personnel and the handling of property at scenes of death. Fire officials routinely coordinate with police and the medical examiner when a person dies at home, and personal effects are typically cataloged for next of kin. Relatives said they are cooperating with investigators and want a clear accounting of what happened in the minutes after Santilli’s death. The family has retained copies of the security footage and said it shows Robb noticing the camera before the alleged theft. Neighbors in the building said the response was swift that day and that additional firefighters and medics cycled through the hallway while procedures were completed inside the unit.
Prosecutors said the next step is a court hearing where the charges will be formally addressed. An arraignment or preliminary hearing date had not been announced publicly as of Friday. The district attorney’s office said it would review any additional evidence the family or the fire department provides. If the case proceeds, prosecutors could present witness testimony and the home surveillance video to a judge. The fire department said internal reviews continue whenever a member is arrested or accused of misconduct. Officials did not say whether any administrative directives will be updated in response to this incident.
Outside the condo tower where Santilli lived, a small vase of winter flowers sat near the front desk this week. “We’re just constantly reliving this,” Giorgio said, pausing in the lobby. Another relative described sorting through holiday cards that had arrived in Santilli’s mailbox after her death. A neighbor, who gave only a first name, said residents had spoken with building security about the importance of preserving footage. “People depend on EMTs when they’re most vulnerable,” the neighbor said. Fire crews at a nearby station declined to comment about the case, referring questions to department headquarters.
The case remains open. Prosecutors said they expect to outline the path forward at the next court listing, which had not yet appeared on the public docket as of Friday morning. Officials said they will provide updates when hearing dates are set and after any rulings on evidence. Robb remains charged and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.