A Florida man faces multiple charges after allegedly swallowing high-value earrings stolen from Tiffany & Co., leading to a prolonged recovery process.
Thief Arrested After Swallowing $769,500 Worth of Earrings in Florida
Thief Arrested After Swallowing $769,500 Worth of Earrings in Florida
Police recover stolen jewelry after lengthy hospital monitoring of suspect
In a bizarre turn of events, Orlando police have successfully recovered two pairs of earrings valued at a staggering $769,500 after a suspect allegedly swallowed the jewelry following a theft from a Tiffany & Co. store. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder, was apprehended on February 26 and is now facing charges of robbery with a disguise and grand theft in the first degree.
According to law enforcement, Gilder posed as an aide to a professional basketball player to gain access to high-end jewelry in a VIP section of the store. During this time, he allegedly distracted staff before making a daring escape with two pairs of earrings. As he fled, he also dropped a diamond ring valued at $587,000, further complicating his alleged theft.
After his capture later that day, police reported Gilder was seen "swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings." Hospitalized for over two weeks, he was under constant supervision by detectives until the jewelry was expelled from his body. Reports indicate that while being transported to jail, Gilder remarked that he should have discarded the earrings instead of swallowing them, and later queried staff about the legal implications of his actions.
The ordeal concluded on March 12 when authorities confirmed the recovery of the final earring, and a master jeweler verified that the items matched the stolen merchandise by serial number. Gilder remains in custody at the Orange County Jail, with a complex criminal history including a 2022 robbery at a Texas Tiffany's and an extensive list of active warrants in Colorado.
According to law enforcement, Gilder posed as an aide to a professional basketball player to gain access to high-end jewelry in a VIP section of the store. During this time, he allegedly distracted staff before making a daring escape with two pairs of earrings. As he fled, he also dropped a diamond ring valued at $587,000, further complicating his alleged theft.
After his capture later that day, police reported Gilder was seen "swallowing several objects believed to be the stolen earrings." Hospitalized for over two weeks, he was under constant supervision by detectives until the jewelry was expelled from his body. Reports indicate that while being transported to jail, Gilder remarked that he should have discarded the earrings instead of swallowing them, and later queried staff about the legal implications of his actions.
The ordeal concluded on March 12 when authorities confirmed the recovery of the final earring, and a master jeweler verified that the items matched the stolen merchandise by serial number. Gilder remains in custody at the Orange County Jail, with a complex criminal history including a 2022 robbery at a Texas Tiffany's and an extensive list of active warrants in Colorado.
