Though it's been nearly three years since The Sopranos star James Gandolfini's death, some troubling new allegations have emerged involving one of the responding paramedics. Italian paramedic Claudio Bevilacqua has been accused of stealing Gandolfini's pricey Rolex off his wrist during the actor's final moments in a Rome hotel, the Telegraph reports.
Bevilacqua, who was not present during a court hearing in Rome Monday and did not enter a plea, is accused of taking advantage of the chaotic situation by pocketing the watch upon arriving at the Boscolo Exedra Hotel to attempt reviving the beloved actor. The watch—a Rolex Submariner worth nearly $3,000—was reported as stolen by Gandolfini's family shortly after the hotel's security noticed it had gone missing. The trial has been adjourned until November.
An autopsy later revealed that Gandolfini, 51, had suffered a heart attack while on vacation with his family in Italy. "We're all in shock and feeling immeasurable sadness at the loss of a beloved member of our family," HBO said in a statement shortly after the actor's death. "He was a special man, a great talent, but more importantly a gentle and loving person who treated everyone no matter their title or position with equal respect. He touched so many of us over the years with his humor, his warmth and his humility."
Gandolfini achieved both critical acclaim and mainstream success with his portrayal of ruthless crime boss Tony Soprano, a role that ultimately earned him multiple Emmys and a Golden Globe Award. The New Jersey native also scored near-unanimous praise for his performance alongside Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Enough Said, which was released months after Gandolfini's death in 2013.
