Five people are facing multiple charges stemming from a million-dollar jewelry heist and kidnapping last year, FOX 17 reports.
In July 2020, a woman was tackled by an unknown man inside a home in Bowling Green, Kentucky, who reportedly held a gun to her neck and zip-tied her hands behind her back. According to the woman, two other men came into the home with a dolly before leaving with a safe a while later. Police said the safe contained 300 to 400 pieces of antique jewelry with an estimated worth of around $1 million.
According to FOX 17, investigators discovered that the thieves wore gloves throughout the robbery and a sticky note was placed over a doorbell camera. Armed with this piece of knowledge, the owners of the safe informed police to check with their friends, Bowling Green jewelers Jeffery and Patricia Weisman. Police ended up arresting the two in December, claiming they had "inside knowledge" of the home's security system and the contents of the safe.
After arresting the Weismans, police set to work identifying the men who broke into the home and attacked the woman. The eventually arrested three Tennessee men, including one prominent jewelry store owner, who were believed to have been hired by the Weismans.
Marshall "Sonny" Belew, a "master jeweler" from Mt. Juliet, is one of the three men who were arrested in connection to the crimes. The 51-year-old owns several American Jewelry stores around Tennessee, including Mt. Juliet and Brentwood. His phone was traced back to Bowling Green at the time of the robbery, with police saying he was "directly involved" in the the heist, FOX 17 reports.
Javier Nunez, 41, and Nicholas Palacios, 41, both of Old Hickory, are believed to have been the other two suspects involved in the break-in.
Each of the five suspects are charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, and second-degree assault. The Weismans and Belew are facing an additional charge of theft over $10,000 but under $1 million.
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