Bob Saget: Deputies disciplined for sharing news of comedian’s death before family knew
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Two Orange County sheriff’s deputies have been disciplined for sharing news of actor and comedian Bob Saget’s death in January before his family members were notified, according to WFTV.
Deputies launched an internal investigation after determining that word of the 65-year-old’s death had spread to social media before officials approved of releasing information on the incident, WFTV reported.
Authorities found Saget, known for his portrayal of Danny Tanner on “Full House” and for hosting “America’s Funniest Home Videos, dead Jan. 9 at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida. A medical examiner later determined that Saget’s death was accidental, caused by blunt force trauma most likely sustained during a fall.
In documents obtained by WFTV, officials said that one of the deputies who responded to Saget’s death, Deputy Emiliano Silva, sent a text message to his brother to let him know about the actor’s death before Saget’s family was notified. Silva’s brother wrote “RIP Bob Saget” in a Twitter post 13 minutes later, records obtained by WFTV show.
Silva called his brother after learning about the tweet and asked him to delete it, which he did, according to the news station.
>> Related: Bob Saget ‘didn’t feel good,’ hearing was ‘off’ before last performance, staffer says
Officials determined that Deputy Steven Reed also shared information about Saget’s death before his family had been told, WFTV reported. He learned about the actor’s death while he was off duty and sent a text message to a neighbor about it, according to the news station.
Both deputies were found to have released information about an ongoing death investigation without proper approval, WFTV reported.
Bob Saget arrives at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Host Bob Saget, left, and honoree Jason Alexander share a laugh at the 13th Annual Lupus LA Orange Ball at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Thursday, May 9, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Host Bob Saget poses alongside an Oscar statue before the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 40th Student Academy Awards at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Saturday, June 8, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget arrives at the premiere of "Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and Dave Coulier attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget attends the 2nd Annual Rebels with a Cause at Paramount Pictures Studios on Thursday, March 20, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Annie I. Bang /Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and Jimmy Kimmel attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Host Bob Saget, center, joins together with guests Jack Black, left, and Kevin Nealon before the Cool Comedy’s Hot Cuisine Benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation at the Four Seasons Hotel on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Comedian Bob Saget performs on stage at KAABOO Texas at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget arrives at the People’s Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and John Mayer attend the Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and Kelly Rizzo arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
John Stamos and Bob Saget seen at Open Road Presents the World Premiere of "Mother’s Day" at TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Hollywood. (Photo by Steve Cohn/Invision for Open Road Films/AP Images)
Lara Saget, left, and Bob Saget arrive at the 56th annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Aubrey Saget, from left, Bob Saget and Lara Saget attend the 30th annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire hotel on Friday, June 16, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and Kelly Rizzo attend the Opening Night of the 2018 Beverly Hills Film Festival at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and John Stamos arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Mother’s Day" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Wednesday, April 13, 2016. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
EXCLUSIVE – John Stamos and, from left, Andrea Barber, Candace Cameron Brue, Lori Loughlin, Bob Saget during night one of the Television Academy’s 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Phil McCarten/Invision/AP)
Jodie Sweetin, front row from left, Jeff Franklin, Candace Cameron-Bure, John Brotherton, Dave Coulier, Scott Weinger, Lori Laughlin, Andrea Barber, and bottom row from left, Juan Pablo di Pace, Bob Saget, and John Stamos pose in the press room with the award for favorite premium comedy series for "Fuller House" at the People’s Choice Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
From left, Jeff Franklin, John Stamos, Lori Loughlin, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Chief Content Officer of Netflix -Ted Sarandos, Michael Campion, Candace Cameron Bure, Elias Harger, Soni Bringas, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier and Juan Pablo Di Pace attend the premiere of "Fuller House" on February 16, 2016 in Los Angeles. (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Bob Saget, left, and Christin Kalaskie arrives at the Cool Comedy: Hot Cuisine Gala Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Friday, June 5, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
EXCLUSIVE – John Stamos, from left, Andrea Barber, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Bure and Lori Loughlin attend night one of the Television Academy’s 2018 Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by John Salangsang/Invision/AP)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR STARLIGHT CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION – Bob Saget, left and Mr. T attend the Starlight Awards at the Skirball Cultural Center on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision for Starlight Children’s Foundation/AP Images)
Jack Black, left, and Bob Saget arrive at the Cool Comedy: Hot Cuisine Gala Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Friday, June 5, 2015, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP)
Actor/comedian Bob Saget performs with David Shaw of The Revivalists during KAABOO 2019 at the Del Mar Racetrack and Fairgrounds on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Del Mar, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
