Victim of fire in mob attorney’s Cherry Hill home suffered ‘substantial injuries’

The victim of a Cherry Hill fire — which broke out in a home owned by a prominent Philadelphia mob lawyer — was unconscious when firefighters found him in a second-floor bedroom Tuesday, suffering from smoke inhalation and burns, officials said Thursday.

"His injuries were substantial," Cherry Hill Fire Chief Thomas Kolbe said.

Authorities have not released the injured man's name or condition. He was taken to Temple University Hospital because it has a burn center, Kolbe said.

The home on Red Oak Drive belongs to Joseph Santaguida, according to public records. Santaguida is a longtime attorney known for defending reputed Philadelphia mobsters such as Joseph "Mousie" Massimino and Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino.

On Facebook, a Philadelphia attorney and family friend, Steven Lawrence Sigal, said Santaguida's son was injured in the fire.

"My thoughts and prayers go out to a longtime family friend, Joe Santaguida," Sigal posted, adding that the son had suffered burns. Sigal did not name the son in the post and declined to comment via email.

Santaguida's firm did not return calls Thursday.

Firefighters responded to the two-story home around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday after a passerby called 911 and reported smoke coming from the roof and second-floor windows.

Kolbe said that firefighters forced entry into the home and that flames were visible near the bedroom where the victim was found. The fire was under control in 21 minutes, Kolbe said.

The arson unit from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office is leading the investigation.

The Camden Courier-Post reported Wednesday that firefighters had removed a blackened propane tank from the home. Asked about that Thursday, Kolbe said, "That's part of the investigation by the Prosecutor's Office."