Florida Man Swallowed $770K in Stolen Diamonds
On a quiet Florida highway, a routine traffic stop turned into something right out of a heist movie. But instead of a high-speed chase or hidden getaway car, this suspect allegedly relied on a far more unexpected escape plan — his digestive system.
The Alleged Heist
According to police, 32-year-old Jaythan Lawrence Gilder allegedly pulled off a bold robbery at a Tiffany & Co. store inside The Mall at Millenia in Orlando, Fla. on Feb. 26, 2025. Posing as a representative for an Orlando Magic player, he gained access to a VIP room and managed to leave with two sets of diamond earrings worth a combined $769,500 — one 4.86-carat pair valued at $160,000 and another 8.10-carat set priced at $609,500.
Store footage captured him introducing himself as "Shawn" and claiming to negotiate on behalf of a professional athlete before abruptly fleeing with the merchandise, as confirmed by the Orlando Police Department.
Dashcam Drama
Later that day, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol stopped Gilder’s vehicle on Interstate 10, acting on alerts tied to the earlier theft. What happened next was caught on dashcam and has since made headlines.
The dashcam footage shows troopers wrestling with Gilder, trying to force open his clenched jaw. According to The Independent, one officer warned, "You're about to get tased," while another shouted, "Spit it out." Gilder, through gritted teeth, replied, "I don't have to," as reported by the New York Post.
Officers noted in the arrest affidavit that Gilder was "talking with a closed mouth and moving an object around ... using his tongue, according to the New York Post.
At the time, authorities could not recover the stolen earrings and charged Gilder only with resisting arrest. But the story didn’t end there.
A Confession in Custody
While being held at the Orange County jail, Gilder reportedly made an unsolicited comment to staff, asking if he would be charged "with what's in my stomach," according to an arrest report cited by WFLA and reported by the New York Post. A nearby trooper also claimed to have overheard him say, "I should have thrown them out the window."
Authorities conducted a body scan and confirmed that foreign objects were passing through his system. Under police supervision, Gilder spent over 12 days at a local hospital before the diamond earrings were finally recovered.
Aftermath and Charges
The earrings, which had survived their unconventional hiding place, were turned over to Tiffany & Co. after being cleaned by the company's master jeweler.
Gilder now faces charges including first-degree grand theft and robbery with a mask. He has not yet been convicted, and all individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Authorities also revealed that Gilder has 48 outstanding warrants in Colorado and had previously been accused of a similar theft at another Tiffany location in Texas in 2022, where he allegedly attempted the same swallowing tactic.
A Risky Escape Plan
While swallowing evidence might seem like something out of a movie, it has real-world consequences. In this case, it delayed formal theft charges and forced police to wait nearly two weeks to build their case — all while monitoring a suspect's digestion.
For law enforcement, the incident highlights the unpredictable lengths some suspects will go to in order to avoid capture. For Gilder, the road ahead likely includes more than just recovery — but also prosecution.
References: Dashcam video catches the moment man swallows $770K worth of Tiffany earrings after cops pull him over | Watch: Jewel thief swallows $770K worth of Tiffany earrings during arrest
