JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A sixth person was arrested Tuesday in connection with a million-dollar jewelry heist in an Ortega home.
Jean Wood, the suspected ringleader's mother, made her first appearance before a judge and was ordered held on $1 million bond. Police reportedly found Wood in a house with jewelry boxes and a grinder that may be used for cutting into safes.
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Among those arrested are Wood's son, Darryl Howell, 18; Michael Ardolino, 28; and Gerald Howell, 47. They were charged with burglary. Natasha Walker, 19; and Danny Farmer, 37, were arrested as accessories after the fact.
Last week, thieves broke into the home, owned by a local philanthropist, through a window. Once inside, they stole a safe loaded with $1.6 million in high-end jewelry.
Among the stolen items was a $100,000 pearl necklace, which is still missing.
Investigators said they believe the thieves entered the property from the water. They then removed a safe from the floor, threw it out a second-story window, and used a stolen boat to float it down the river.
Investigators said they wonder if the criminals had inside help or if their success was just dumb luck.
Their luck ran out, however, when pawnshop owner Robert Rawlins became suspicious of why the sellers would have such high-priced jewelry. Howell allegedly came into the shop wearing jeans and a T-shirt, with a handful of expensive goods, including one piece worth about $300,000.
Now that police have suspects in custody, they're focusing on finding the jewelry. They're also investigating a possible link to the recent burlargy at the home of Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio.
Previous Stories:
- August 23, 2004: Five Charged In Ortega Jewelry Heist