Jaythan Gilder, 32, faces serious charges after allegedly stealing high-value earrings, which he ingested following his arrest, leading to a lengthy recovery process.
Thief Swallows $769,500 Earrings, Recovered by Police After 12-Day Wait
Thief Swallows $769,500 Earrings, Recovered by Police After 12-Day Wait
Orlando police retrieve expensive earrings from a suspect who ingested them post-theft
Orlando, Florida - In an unusual theft case, Florida authorities have successfully recovered two sets of earrings valued at a staggering $769,500 after the alleged thief reportedly swallowed them following the heist. Jaythan Gilder, 32, is accused of pilfering the Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings on February 26, 2023, while posing as an assistant to an NBA player, taking advantage of the store's VIP area.
Upon his admission to police custody later that day, officers observed Mr. Gilder attempting to conceal the evidence by ingesting the earrings. Following his ingestion of the items, the police detained him at an Orlando hospital where they monitored his condition for over two weeks until the jewelry was expelled from his body.
"The case turned into a marathon, not a sprint," explained Detective Aaron Goss of the Orlando Police Department. By March 12, authorities managed to recover the final piece of jewelry, verifying its authenticity with Tiffany's jeweler who confirmed the serial numbers matched those of the stolen items.
Gilder is currently facing multiple charges including first-degree grand theft and robbery with a mask. Additionally, he is suspected of committing a similar robbery in Texas last year, with over 48 warrants pending against him in Colorado. As he remains in custody at the Orange County Jail, this bizarre incident highlights the lengths to which some individuals will go in pursuit of luxury items.
