Police track down woman's stolen wedding ring, make arrest in theft

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A man accused of stealing a woman’s wedding ring, which she was trying to sell to pay her disabled husband’s medical bills, has been arrested, police said.

Altamonte Springs police responded over the last few weeks to several robberies that started with an online transaction.

Police said three victims, including Megan Starich, listed items for sale on a for-sale-by-owner website.

Hundreds of people across the country chipped in to support Starich, a mother who was selling the ring because she had to pay off $72,000 in medical bills.

“The fact that he would take advantage of people in their desperate hour is appalling,” she said.

Each received an offer from someone who called himself Aaron Miller and agreed to meet them in Altamonte Springs for the exchange.

Police said the man grabbed the items from the victims and ran.

He made off with two sets of weddings rings and an iPhone, police said.

Detectives later identified Gary Jordan, 18, as the suspect. They said he pawned the rings, which detectives tracked down, along with the iPhone.

Jay Mueller of Value Cash and Pawn Shop, remembers buying the ring from Jordan.

He said Jordan told him the ring was originally his mother’s that he used to propose to his ex-fiance, but she beat him up so he wanted to sell it.

“His story sounded like something that could happen to an young kid that’s in love,” said Mueller.

People across the country saw Starich’s story and donations poured in.

“I was not expecting this response,” she said. “I was just hoping that my mistake would save somebody else from making the same one. And possibly getting my ring back.”

The symbol of love slid back onto Starich’s hand Thursday afternoon.

“It’s turned a bad situations and made it absolutely wonderful,” she said.

The pawn shop paid $800 to get her ring in the first place.

Typically in Seminole County, the victim is responsible to pay that back to get their stolen property but in this case, the pawn shop made the decision to take the financial loss and give the woman back her ring.

Starich said she still plans to sell the ring, because even with the help of a GoFund me account, there are still too many medical bills.

Cox Media Group