A man suspected of theft allegedly swallowed two pairs of diamond earrings while being apprehended on a highway in Florida’s Panhandle last week. Authorities now face the unpleasant task of retrieving the high-end Tiffany & Co. jewelry, valued at nearly $770,000.
Inside the patrol vehicle, a state trooper reportedly overheard the suspect muttering, “I should have tossed them out the window.” Later, upon arriving at the Washington County jail, he questioned the staff, “Will I be charged for what’s inside my stomach?” according to the arrest report.
The 32-year-old Texas resident is accused of two felony offenses after allegedly snatching the earrings from an upscale shopping center in Orlando last Wednesday.
An X-ray of the suspect’s abdomen revealed a bright white mass in his digestive tract, which Orlando police believe to be the stolen earrings.
“These foreign objects are suspected to be the Tiffany & Co. earrings taken during the theft, but they will need to be recovered once they pass through his system,” the arrest report stated.
On Wednesday, Orlando police spokesperson Kaylee Bishop confirmed that investigators were still determining whether the earrings had been retrieved. A deputy from Washington County, where the suspect was arrested near Chipley, Florida, was also unable to provide an update on their status. A note on a court document filed Monday mentioned “outside medical,” suggesting he had been transferred to a healthcare facility.
During the heist, the suspect allegedly posed as a potential buyer, claiming he was selecting diamond jewelry on behalf of an Orlando Magic basketball player. Tiffany sales associates guided him to a private VIP room to examine the pieces. However, moments later, he abruptly leaped from his seat, grabbed the jewelry, and attempted to flee.
A store employee, injured while trying to block his escape, managed to knock a diamond ring—worth approximately $587,000—out of his grasp before he could take it.
Investigators tracked the suspect’s vehicle using surveillance footage from the shopping mall, identifying his license plate. Authorities believe he was heading back to Texas. Florida state troopers monitored his car via license plate readers along the Florida Turnpike and Interstate 10 until they pulled him over in Washington County, nearly 340 miles (550 kilometers) from Orlando, for driving without functioning rear lights.
The suspect now faces charges of first-degree felony grand theft and third-degree felony robbery while wearing a mask. As of Wednesday morning, he remained in police custody in Orange County, Florida—home to Orlando. Court records indicate he has not retained an attorney.