Catapano, 70, was hospitalized on April 4 after falling ill with coronavirus, his daughter Tara Catapano told CNN. He was lucid when the alleged theft occurred and later died on April 12 from complications of the virus.
“I was shocked and incredulous,” said Tara Catapano. “Obviously, I knew he had to be an employee of the hospital because visitors weren’t really allowed.”
Tara Catapano, who had paid her father’s bills since her mother passed away in 2014, said that she doesn’t normally follow her father’s expenses closely.
However, after his death and he received a credit card statement for gasoline – which he said his father always paid in cash – he then saw the date of the indictment that occurred on April 9, when his father was ” in the hospital, literally fighting over his life. ”
Tara Catapano said the police showed her surveillance footage from a ShopRite of what appeared to be Conti who paid for groceries using his father’s card.
“They take an oath to protect, not to harm,” said Tara Catapano.
Other things not accounted for include his father’s glasses, cell phone, money in his wallet, chargers and photos. It is not clear what happened to those belongings and it is not certain that they were intentionally stolen.
In a statement provided to CNN, Christian Preston, director of public affairs at Staten Island University Hospital, said Conti, who has been working in the hospital since 2007, “has been temporarily suspended and is likely to be reported in response to the crime charges.” He also said that the hospital “is working closely with the police authorities and the hospital is conducting its investigations.”
Efforts to reach Conti were unsuccessful. It was not immediately clear whether he has a lawyer.
A New York police spokesman told CNN that Conti was given a desk warrant, or an order to appear in the Staten Island criminal court, for some time in September.
Tara Catapano told CNN he just wants to know why Conti did what he would do.
“I would like to know why he took advantage of my father while he was on his deathbed,” he said. “And I’d like to know how it would feel if someone did it to a loved one, whether it’s a parent or a grandfather. I don’t think that when people do these things they think about it that way.
“But he’s my father, he’s a person,” said Tara Catapano. “I am disgusted [Conti was] she should take care of him and instead … she stole him. “
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