Orlando Police Recover Swallowed Diamond Earrings Worth Sh99 Million from Jewel Thief

Orlando police have recovered two sets of Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings, valued at approximately Sh99,650,250 million after a suspect attempted to evade capture by swallowing the stolen items.

The recovery concludes a highly unusual case that began on February 26, when 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder allegedly posed as an assistant to an NBA player to gain access to a collection of luxury jewellery at a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando. According to investigators, Gilder distracted store employees and fled with the earrings.

During his escape, he dropped a diamond ring valued at Sh76,016,500 million. Police apprehended Gilder later that day and observed him swallowing objects believed to be the stolen earrings. Subsequent X-rays confirmed the presence of foreign items within Gilder's digestive system, leading to a two-week period where detectives monitored his condition at a local hospital until the items were naturally expelled.

The earrings were returned to Tiffany & Co., where a master jeweller authenticated them using serial numbers. The store has since cleaned and restored the jewellery. Gilder now faces charges of first-degree grand theft and robbery while wearing a mask.

Authorities have also revealed that Gilder has a prior record, including a 2022 robbery at another Tiffany & Co. location in Texas, and 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado. He is currently in custody at Orange County Jail awaiting further legal proceedings. Detective Aaron Goss describes the case as particularly challenging, noting the "marathon" effort required to recover the stolen items.