Thief Swallows $769K in Stolen Diamonds, Jury Convicts Him
A man who swallowed $769,500 worth of stolen diamond earrings to hide them from police has been convicted of robbery and grand theft. Jaythan Gilder stole the jewelry from a Tiffany & Co. store in February 2025 before swallowing it during his arrest. A jail body scan exposed the diamonds, which investigators recovered nearly two weeks later. A Florida jury convicted Gilder on October 22, 2026, and sentencing is pending.
THE DAILY SOURCE | Orlando, Florida | October 26, 2026
A Florida man who swallowed nearly $770,000 worth of stolen diamond earrings in an attempt to conceal evidence has been convicted of robbery and grand theft, bringing an extraordinary jewelry heist to a close in court.
Jaythan Lawrence Gilder was found guilty by an Orange County jury on October 22, 2026, following a theft at a Tiffany & Co. store inside Orlando's Mall at Millenia.
The case involved an elaborate deception, a high-value robbery, and an unusual attempt to dispose of evidence that ultimately required investigators to wait nearly two weeks to recover it.
A Luxury Shopping Trip Takes an Unexpected Turn
On February 26, 2025, Gilder entered Tiffany & Co. posing as a representative of a professional basketball player, according to investigators.
The apparent interest in expensive jewelry gave him access to two pairs of diamond earrings valued at a combined $769,500.
Rather than completing a purchase, Gilder grabbed the jewelry and fled.
The robbery triggered a police investigation that would soon take an unexpected turn.
A Desperate Attempt to Hide the Evidence
During his arrest, Gilder swallowed the stolen earrings in an apparent effort to prevent authorities from recovering them.
The plan presented investigators with an unusual problem: the evidence was no longer in his pockets, vehicle, or belongings.
It was inside him.
A body scan conducted at the jail revealed the jewelry in his digestive tract, confirming that the missing diamonds had not disappeared.
Investigators then monitored Gilder for nearly two weeks until all four earrings were recovered.
The diamonds were subsequently cleaned, authenticated using their serial numbers, and returned to the retailer.
The attempted concealment had accomplished little beyond making the evidence considerably more difficult to retrieve.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict
More than a year after the robbery, Gilder's case went before an Orange County jury.
On October 22, 2026, jurors convicted him of robbery and grand theft.
The verdict marked the latest development in a case that initially attracted national attention because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the stolen jewelry.
Gilder now awaits sentencing.
The case serves as a reminder that stealing expensive jewelry is one problem. Attempting to make it disappear by swallowing it can create an entirely different one.
For investigators, the evidence eventually emerged intact. For Gilder, the criminal case ended in convictions on both charges.
Sources & References
Florida State Attorney’s Office — Official Conviction Announcement (October 22, 2026)
https://sao9.net/jury-finds-jaythan-gilder-guilty-of-robbery-and-grand-theft-in-tiffany-co-jewelry-robbery/WFTV Channel 9 — Man Who Swallowed $769,500 in Stolen Tiffany Earrings Found Guilty
https://www.wftv.com/news/local/orange-county/man-who-swallowed-769500-stolen-tiffany-earrings-found-guilty-orlando-robbery/N4Q4M5N4Z5BX3E7R6OHZAVFWTE/
See an error? Our corrections policy explains how we fix mistakes. Tell the newsroom.
Conversation
Comments are reviewed by editors before publishing. Keep it civil and on the facts.
Sign in to join the conversation.