Imagine pulling off a six-figure jewelry heist—only to end up swallowing the loot before you even get away. That’s exactly what happened in Florida last week when a suspected thief, fleeing with $770,000 worth of Tiffany & Co. diamond earrings, made a desperate last move: swallowing them whole.
The arrest took place near Chipley, Florida, but the crime itself originated at an Orlando luxury shopping center. And while the suspect thought he was making a clean getaway to Texas, state troopers had other plans.
But here’s the real kicker: as of March 6, 2025, police still haven’t confirmed whether they’ve recovered the stolen diamonds.
Let’s break down one of the weirdest jewelry heists in recent history.
The $770K Tiffany & Co. Heist: A Play-by-Play
1. The “VIP Buyer” Scam
The suspect—a 32-year-old Texas man whose identity remains undisclosed—entered a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, claiming he was purchasing jewelry on behalf of an Orlando Magic basketball player.
The staff, eager to serve a high-profile client, escorted him to a VIP room, where they showcased their finest pieces, including:
- Two pairs of diamond earrings worth $770,000
- A $587,000 diamond ring
But rather than pulling out a platinum credit card, the suspect made a run for it—grabbing the earrings and ring before making a dash for the exit.
2. The Great Escape (Almost)
During his getaway attempt, a quick-thinking sales associate fought back, managing to knock the $587,000 ring from his hands, leaving him with only the earrings.
With security footage capturing his car and license plate, police quickly tracked him as he sped west toward Texas, likely believing he could outrun the investigation.
But Florida Highway Patrol had other ideas.
3. Busted on the Highway Near Chipley, FL
By March 1, 2025, law enforcement had located the suspect’s vehicle on a rural stretch of highway near Chipley, Florida.
When troopers pulled him over, he knew he was caught—but he wasn’t about to give up the evidence so easily.
In a last-ditch effort to hide the stolen goods, he swallowed both pairs of diamond earrings.
Yes, you read that right.
The $770,000 in luxury jewelry was now sitting in his digestive system.
4. “I Should Have Thrown Them Out the Window”
Even after his arrest, the suspect kept making mistakes.
In the back of the squad car, a Florida trooper overheard him muttering:
🗣️ “I should have thrown them out the window.”
At the Washington County jail, he nervously asked officers:
🗣️ “Am I going to be charged with what is in my stomach?”
By this point, police had already X-rayed him, revealing a suspicious white mass glowing inside his abdomen.
Where Are the Earrings Now?
Here’s the strange part: as of March 6, 2025, police haven’t confirmed whether they’ve recovered the earrings.
Reports indicate that after his arrest, a medical note on his commitment order read “outside medical,” suggesting he was sent to a facility for observation.
So, what’s the delay?
- Medical complications? It’s possible doctors need time to ensure a safe recovery of the jewelry.
- Earrings still inside him? Authorities may still be waiting for nature to take its course.
- Evidence concerns? If the earrings pass through his system, will they still be undamaged enough to use as evidence in court?
As wild as this story is, the case is still unfolding.
Why Was Chipley Involved?
The actual heist took place in Orlando, so why is Chipley, FL part of the headlines?
- The suspect was arrested while driving toward Texas, and Chipley just happened to be the place where police caught up with him.
- Chipley is a quiet town with only 3,600 residents—not the kind of place you’d expect a six-figure jewelry thief to pass through.
- This case is not connected to any local Chipley jewelry stores, which remain small-scale businesses without reported heists.
So while Chipley has no real link to luxury jewelry crime, its name is now tied to one of the strangest heist stories of the decade.
The Bigger Picture: What Happens Next?
With the suspect facing multiple felony charges, the legal battle will likely center on:
- What evidence police can recover from his body.
- Whether the earrings are still intact.
- What additional details emerge from surveillance footage.
Meanwhile, media outlets and social media are having a field day with the bizarre details.
But behind the viral headlines, there’s a more serious issue:
- This case exposes how easy it can be for scammers to gain access to high-value jewelry, especially by posing as VIP buyers.
- The “swallowing the evidence” tactic isn’t new, but this is one of the most extreme examples in recent history.
- Police acted quickly, showing that technology and surveillance played a major role in preventing a full escape.
The question remains: Will Tiffany & Co. ever get their diamonds back?
Final Thoughts: A Crime as Bizarre as It Is Unbelievable
This jewelry heist-turned-medical mystery proves that some criminals will do anything to avoid getting caught—even if it means swallowing nearly a million dollars in diamonds.
The suspect may have thought his escape plan was foolproof, but he didn’t account for X-ray technology, law enforcement tracking, and, well… biology.
Now, as investigators wait for the final piece of evidence to “resurface,” one thing is clear:
🔹 This isn’t just another heist story—it’s one of the wildest true crime cases of 2025.
