ACWORTH, Ga. — The owners of a jewelry store in Georgia helped police capture a man who crossed state lines with a stolen $95,000 diamond that belonged to a 90-year-old woman in Tennessee.
The owners of Celestial Jewelers in Acworth knew something wasn’t right when Brandon McNeece walked into their store with a pricey diamond and a certificate of authenticity missing some information.
According to the Acworth Police Department, the store owners said McNeece presented a partial certificate of authenticity for a 9.46-carat diamond.
“It was a 9 1/2 carat diamond ring. The appraisal had the owner’s name clipped off and part of the address, but I was still able to read just enough of the address,” Ronda Brummett, co-owner of Celestial Jewelers, told WSB-TV.
Brummett found a phone number for the actual owner through a Google search.
“My business partner called and found out that they did have this particular ring stolen,” Brummett said.
Brummett’s business partner called the police while she stalled McNeece until they could arrive.
McNeece faces multiple charges, including theft by bringing stolen property into the state, receiving stolen property greater than $1,500 and other charges, police said.
According to WSB, the ring belongs to an elderly woman in Tennessee.
“The lady is in her 90s, and she is currently in the hospital and, from my understanding, wasn’t doing very well, and she wanted to wear her diamond and be wearing it in the event that she passed because it was so important to her,” Brummett told the station.
Brummett said she was glad the story had a happy ending.
“You’re getting something very important back to the rightful owner,” Brummett said.