The Bizarre Case of Jaythan Gilder and the Stolen Tiffany Jewelry

A Brazen Heist at Tiffany & Co.

In a shocking turn of events, Jaythan Gilder, a 32-year-old man from Houston, Texas, has been accused of pulling off a daring heist at a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store in Orlando, Florida. On February 26, Gilder allegedly walked into the store, dressed in a red hat, a red Polo shirt, and distressed blue jeans, and posed as a representative for a player on the Orlando Magic basketball team. He introduced himself as "Shawn" and claimed he was there to negotiate a sale on behalf of the player. His charismatic demeanor and false identity were convincing enough to gain him access to the store’s VIP room, where high-value jewelry was being showcased.

A Violent Escape with Millions in Jewelry

Once in the VIP room, Gilder was shown an impressive collection of jewelry, including two pairs of diamond earrings valued at $160,000 and $609,500, respectively, and a diamond ring worth $587,000. However, the meeting took a dramatic turn when Gilder suddenly grabbed the merchandise and attempted to make a hasty exit. He "violently pushed and pulled" at the sliding doors of the VIP room, engaging in a physical altercation with store associate Amit Nayee, who tried to stop him. During the scuffle, Nayee sustained visible injuries, and although the diamond ring was dropped during the struggle, Gilder managed to hold onto the earrings and escape through the store’s front doors. Eyewitnesses reported that Gilder fled the scene, leaving both customers and staff in a state of panic.

A High-Speed Chase and Arrest

Following the theft, mall security cameras captured footage of a man matching Gilder’s description entering a blue 2024 Mitsubishi Outlander. Law enforcement agencies were quickly alerted, and the vehicle was tracked using public safety cameras and toll records. Shortly before 8 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol pulled over the vehicle for a traffic violation. Upon stopping the car, Gilder allegedly resisted the investigation and was arrested on charges unrelated to the robbery. During the arrest, officers found earring forms and price tags from Tiffany & Co. on the floor of the vehicle, linking Gilder to the crime.

The Shocking Discovery of Swallowed Evidence

In a bizarre twist, as Gilder was being taken into custody, he allegedly swallowed several items, which police believe to be the stolen Tiffany earrings. When officers heard him mutter, "I should have thrown them out the window," they immediately suspected that he had ingested the evidence. A subsequent live scan at the Washington County Jail revealed foreign objects in Gilder’s stomach, strongly suggesting that the earrings were indeed inside him. The combined value of the missing earrings is estimated at $769,500, making this not only a brazen theft but also a desperate attempt to evade capture.

Legal Consequences and Prior Offenses

Gilder is currently being held at the Orange County Jail, facing serious charges including grand theft in the first degree and robbery with a mask. Although Gilder was not wearing a traditional mask during the robbery, his use of a gauze nose covering, arm bandage, and hat has led police to classify the crime as robbery with a mask, as these items were used to conceal his identity. Both charges are felonies, and the case has been further complicated by Gilder’s history of similar offenses. In 2022, he was charged in a nearly identical robbery at a Tiffany & Co. store in Texas, and he is also facing 48 separate "failure to appear" warrants from Colorado.

The Aftermath and Unanswered Questions

As the legal proceedings unfold, several questions remain unanswered. Court documents do not confirm whether the stolen earrings were ever recovered, and officials at the Washington County Jail have stated that the earrings were not found during Gilder’s time there. It is unclear whether Gilder will face additional charges related to the items he allegedly swallowed or if the jewelry will ever be recovered. This case serves as a reminder of the lengths to which individuals will go to commit crimes and the challenges law enforcement faces in retrieving stolen goods. The bizarre details of this heist have captivated the public’s attention, highlighting the often-dramatic nature of criminal endeavors.