A Wild Heist Story Involving Tiffany Diamonds
Remember the bizarre tale of a man who claimed to be an assistant to an Orlando Magic player? It revolved around stolen jewelry valued at over $700,000 and the unusual act of swallowing the stolen items. This incident captured the public’s attention for two whole weeks last spring, mainly due to the rather dramatic series of events that unfolded.
You might wonder why it took so long. Well, let’s just say nature had to take its course before the police could recover the substantial sum he had taken.
Jaythan Lawrence Gilder, a Texas man with a lengthy criminal history, was escorted to a VIP area at a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando before making his move. He claimed to be an assistant for an NBA player, which, I guess, put him in a position to take advantage of the situation. He snatched some jewelry presented to him and attempted to make a break for it.
In a clumsy effort to escape, he struggled with a sliding glass door, pushed an employee, and fled the scene. Authorities later apprehended Gilder in the Florida Panhandle, where, instead of surrendering, he decided to swallow two sets of diamond earrings valued at around $770,000.
The plot thickened when police took him to the hospital. An X-ray revealed that, remarkably, the missing earrings were located after he, well, had a bowel movement.
With all this in mind, he’s garnered quite the nickname: “The Man Who Pooped on Tiffany Diamonds.” But that’s not the end of his saga. Surprisingly, Gilder opted to defend himself in court, rejecting a plea deal offered by the prosecution. During a recent court session, a judge approved his request to waive his right to legal representation.
He plans to consult with a public defender before making his next court appearance in an Orlando robbery and grand larceny case. Having been in jail since his arrest last year, Gilder, now 33, faces a rather daunting situation.
While it’s pretty risky to represent oneself in court—especially as a repeat offender—the stakes are high. A robbery conviction can lead to up to 30 years in prison, with a minimum of 15 years, while grand theft could result in a similar sentence. Yet, if it comes to explaining how those earrings ended up where they did, wouldn’t it be better for him to be the one to tell that story?
