Florida Police Retrieve Stolen Earrings From Alleged Thief’s Stomach

Jaythan Gilder, a 32-year-old man, was arrested by Florida police after allegedly stealing Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings worth $769,500 and swallowing them to evade capture. Following a careful monitoring process at an Orlando hospital, the earrings were successfully recovered after being expelled from his system.

In a bizarre case from Florida, Orlando police have successfully retrieved two sets of diamond earrings valued at an astonishing $769,500 after the alleged thief ingested them in an attempt to evade arrest. The suspect, identified as 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder, reportedly stole the items from a Tiffany & Co. store on February 26, while posing as a personal assistant to an NBA player.

According to the Orlando Police Department, Gilder managed to distract store employees before fleeing with two pairs of earrings and a separate diamond ring appraised at $587,000. Once detained shortly after the theft, officers witnessed Gilder swallowing multiple objects believed to be the stolen jewelry. During transport to jail, he expressed regret, saying, "I should have thrown them out the window," indicating his awareness of the ill-fated decision.

To retrieve the stolen items, police monitored Gilder at an Orlando hospital for over two weeks, a process described by Detective Aaron Goss as a "marathon, not a sprint." On March 12, the final earring was successfully expelled, and upon their return to Tiffany & Co., the serial numbers confirmed their authenticity as the stolen pieces.

Gilder now faces serious charges, including robbery with a mask and first-degree grand theft, with a disturbing criminal background that includes a previous robbery at a Tiffany & Co. in Texas. Additionally, reports indicate that there are 48 active warrants for his arrest in Colorado. Gilder remains in custody at the Orange County Jail as the investigation continues.