The biography on the Golly Gee Records website describes Ralph Rebel thusly : “the DNA of Scotty Moore mixed with that of Dick Dale.” Sadly, Newsday’s Christine Armario and James Fitzpatrick refer to the late Ralph Santiago (above, center, shown with Brian Setzer) as the “Overweight Burglar.”
Ralph Santiago faced up to 15 years in prison for burglary following an embarrassing trial in which he argued that he was too overweight to have fit through a neighbor’s window and stolen jewelry and electronics.
After failing to show up for his sentencing Wednesday, police say, he decided to end his life instead, apparently committing suicide in a Copiague motel, where his body was found Saturday morning. Suffolk police said there no signs of foul play. Police said Santiago, 41, of Lindenhurst, checked in to the South Bay Motel a couple of days before and was found in his room by the motel manager. Authorities declined to comment on how he had killed himself.
His attorney, Howard Knispel of Commack, had Santiago stand behind a replica of the window to demonstrate how a man of 275 pounds could not fit in a 22-inch opening. Prosecutors showed the jury a videotape of a 6-foot, 325-pound Suffolk police sergeant clearing the same window in seconds. On June 13, a jury found Santiago guilty.
rest in peace ralph.
I am the attorney who represented Mr. Santiago. Please note that I objected to the videotape of the police officer going through the window because he did so by climbing a ladder, something the testimony at trial did not show Mr. Santiago did. I believe this would have been an appealable issue. However, Mr. Santiago appeared in court stoned and even passed out while testifying.
Out of respect for this tragedy and the poor man’s family please remove Mr. Knispel’s remark above. Mr. Knispel is a tragedy to law and to allthose whom he accepts as clients, mostly because they have not done their research before hiring him or because of not knowing, understanding the system. I had foolishly used this lawyer and had to fire him for gross incompetence. One of his other clients contacted me via a review I had left about this lawyer to complain of similar ineptitude and incompetence. I only wonder how many more there are out there. This man should not practice law, it is an opinion only but an opinion of an educated professional, nevertheless it is my opinion.
Knispel is running for Town Supervisor for Smithtown, NY this coming Election Day. I would not vote for him. In today’s political climate we need a politician that is honest and has integrity. Please explore the other candidates.
WHAT!?!??! I thought my Dad died from his smoking addiction that led to heart failure!