Florida Jury Convicts Man Who Swallowed $760k in Tiffany Jewelry
A Florida jury convicted Jaythan Gilder of stealing over $760,000 in jewelry from an Orlando Tiffany & Co. store and swallowing the diamond earrings to destroy evidence.
A Florida jury has convicted 32-year-old Jaythan Gilder of armed robbery and grand theft after he stole luxury jewelry from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando and swallowed the loot, valued at over $760,000, to destroy evidence.
The incident occurred in February 2025 when Gilder entered the store posing as a representative of an Orlando Magic NBA player to inspect high-end jewelry. After being handed two pairs of diamond earrings—one 4.86-carat pair valued at $160,000 and an 8.10-carat pair valued at $609,500—he snatched them, used force against a store employee, and fled the scene. Florida Highway Patrol dashcam footage later captured officers struggling with Gilder on Interstate 10 as they attempted to prevent him from swallowing the items.
Gilder resisted arrest, writhing on the ground as three officers tried to subdue him and demanded he open his mouth. He was initially booked only on charges of resisting arrest because the gold and diamond earrings were neither on his person nor in his vehicle.
The Jailhouse Confession and X-Rays
A dramatic twist unfolded at the Orange County jail when Gilder spontaneously asked corrections officers if he would be prosecuted "for what I have in my stomach." An officer nearby also overheard him remarking, "I should have thrown them out the window."
These incriminating statements prompted investigators to perform a body scan, which clearly revealed the luxury earrings moving through his digestive tract. Gilder was subsequently hospitalized under close supervision for nearly two weeks until the jewelry passed through his body naturally.
Following their recovery, the earrings were delivered to Tiffany's master jeweler for thorough cleaning and disinfection before being returned to the company's security director. State Attorney Monique Worrell emphasized the gravity of the case, stating that the verdict sends a clear message against workplace violence and theft. Gilder's sentencing is scheduled for December 7.
