Events & AwardsMar 17, 2026
The Best Moments From the 2026 Gem Awards Held just before the Oscars, the jewelry industry’s big awards show had its share of standout jewelry, gowns, and acceptance speeches.
CrimeDec 22, 2016
Suspects Arrested in Triple Homicide at Mississippi Store
Police said that Joshua M. Garcia, 37, and Jamieson L. Townsend, 35, were taken into custody in Kansas early Wednesday morning.
Jamieson L. Townsend, 35, and her boyfriend, 37-year-old Joshua Garcia, were arrested Wednesday and are being charged in a triple homicide committed Saturday at a jewelry store and pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi.
Johnson City, Kansas--The couple wanted in the murder of a Jackson, Mississippi jewelry store/pawn shop owner and his two employees were arrested early Wednesday following a police chase in rural Kansas.
Joshua M. Garcia, 37, of Biloxi, Mississippi, and Jamieson L. Townsend, 35, of Blue Springs, Missouri, were taken into custody by a Geary County sheriff’s deputy shortly after midnight Wednesday morning, the Jewelers Security Alliance said via an email alert that went out Wednesday afternoon.
The Jackson Police Department said via Twitter that both are being charged with three counts of capital murder and one count of armed robbery of a business, and face extradition from Kansas to Mississippi.
The manhunt for the couple and their red Dodge Charger started after Jackson police discovered Saturday evening that 81-year-old Bill Mosley, the owner of Bill’s Pawn Jewelry Coin/Stamp Exchange, and his two employees, 60-year-old Robert Ivy and 70-year-old Ted McLemore, had been shot to death during a robbery at the store.
The JSA was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the suspects’ arrest.
On Monday, a trooper in Coffee County, Tennessee, tried to pull over Garcia and Townsend because the Charger did not have tags, WKRN reported, but the couple managed to elude the trooper.
After midnight on Wednesday morning, Garcia and Townsend were stopped by law enforcement again, about 980 miles northwest in Johnson City, Kansas.
There, the JSA said, a Geary County sheriff’s deputy pulled over the Charger because it didn’t have any registration displayed. The couple tried to get away again and the deputy gave chase, pursuing Garcia and Townsend down a dead-end road where Garcia wrecked the car and then fled on foot.
According to the JSA, Townsend was arrested at the scene of the crash while Garcia was found about a mile away hiding in the back seat of a vehicle.
Garcia has a record that includes convictions for armed robbery, burglary, receiving stolen property and grand larceny stretching back to 1999 and according to The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, he was paroled in 2014 and no longer under observation as of January 2015.
Townsend’s LinkedIn profile states that she is a graduate of Graceland University in Des Moines, Iowa and worked as registered nurse, though the information the JSA supplied stated that her nursing license expired last year. She has two children, though it was not immediately clear if they are with Garcia.
The couple
also is wanted in connection with the Dec. 13 robbery of a jewelry store in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
The loss of Mosley, Ivy and McLemore mark the third, fourth and fifth members of the jewelry industry killed while on the job in 2016. Leopolda Velda was shot to death inside his store, Corona Jewelry in Milwaukee, on Halloween, and traveling salesman Muhammed Shaikh was murdered in Dallas in June.
The loss of Mosley, Ivy and McLemore mark the third, fourth and fifth members of the jewelry industry killed while on the job in 2016. Leopolda Velda was shot to death inside his store, Corona Jewelry in Milwaukee, on Halloween, and traveling salesman Muhammed Shaikh was murdered in Dallas in June.
More on Crime
The Latest
SourcingMar 17, 2026
Cruzeiro Mine Debuts ‘Winter Tourmaline’The Brazilian mine’s new collection features cabochons in soft, muted shades like silver and lilac.
TrendsMar 17, 2026
Natalie Portman Is Tiffany & Co.’s New AmbassadorThe Academy Award-winning actress stars in Tiffany & Co.’s latest commercial, which debuted Sunday night during the Oscars.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
MajorsMar 17, 2026
Kering Establishes Jewelry Division, Appoints CEOThe organizational change follows Kering’s promise of a transformation after declining sales in 2025.
Weekly QuizMar 12, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
EditorsMar 16, 2026
2026 Oscars Jewelry: One Necklace After AnotherNatalie Francisco rounds up the top Oscars jewels, including Rose Byrne’s Taffin necklace with a more than 20-carat yellow-brown diamond.
WatchesMar 16, 2026
TAG Heuer Has a New CEOBéatrice Goasglas has been with TAG Heuer since 2018. She is the first woman to head the 166-year-old, LVMH-owned watch brand.
Brought to you by
DCA Enters a New Chapter in Jewelry EducationWith refreshed branding, a new website, updated courses, and a pathway for growth, DCA is dedicated to supporting retail staff development.
IndependentsMar 16, 2026
Ben Bridge Debuts New Honolulu BoutiqueThe store features the first in-store build for the jeweler’s in-house “Bella Ponte” bridal brand.
AuctionsMar 16, 2026
Bonhams Paris To Offer Antique, Signed Jewels The live fine jewelry auction will take place later this week, showcasing antique pieces, rare gemstones, and signed jewels.
CollectionsMar 13, 2026
A Trio of Jewels from the 3 Gem Award Nominees for Jewelry DesignOur Pieces of the Week honor the 2026 nominees for the Gem Award for Jewelry Design, Silvia Furmanovich, Cece Fein-Hughes, and Catherine Sarr.
WatchesMar 13, 2026
Citizen, Vera Wang to Launch Watch CollectionThe 24-piece watch collection is set to debut in spring 2027.
SourcingMar 13, 2026
Andrea Pooler Joins Third-Generation Diamond Company as COO Pooler, who has more than 25 years’ experience in jewelry, is now chief operating officer of Modani Jewels, Soham Diamonds, and SNJ Creations.
MajorsMar 13, 2026
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf AstoriaThe reopening of the Waldorf Astoria means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event, which will take place Saturday.
CollectionsMar 12, 2026
Jessica McCormack Sends Gold, Gemstones Into ‘Orbit’McCormack looked to the 19th century’s “golden age” of astronomy when designing her new celestial-themed collection.
Events & AwardsMar 12, 2026
Johnny Nelson Wins David Yurman Gem Awards GrantNelson will be honored as the inaugural grant winner at the Gem Awards gala on Friday.
TechnologyMar 12, 2026
Caratwise Launches, Names Former Signet Exec CEO The new smart design software allows jewelers to configure, price, and confirm a custom engagement ring in real time for in-store customers.
SourcingMar 12, 2026
Grandview Klein Opens New Factory in South Africa The 10,000-square-foot diamond manufacturing facility officially opened in late February and employs 50 people.
Events & AwardsMar 12, 2026
MJSA ‘Future of Jewelry Making’ Scholarship Applications OpenThe MJSA Education Foundation’s scholarships support students pursuing jewelry careers.
AuctionsMar 11, 2026
‘Spectacular’ 26-Carat Diamond Going Up for Auction in London The largest white diamond to come to market in the U.K. in more than a decade, the VVS1, I-color stone is expected to top $1 million.
TechnologyMar 11, 2026
Cast Jewelry’s Rachel Skelly on Coming Back Online Only Skelly shares her plans for reimagining the fine jewelry retailer she re-acquired after it faltered last year.
CollectionsMar 11, 2026
Pyrrha Highlights ‘The Space Between’ In New CollectionThe collection takes inspiration from the emotional space between people, moments, and experiences.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
From the Jazz Age to the Information Age: London Jewelers Turns 100In 2026, the jewelry retailer is celebrating a milestone only a small percentage of family-owned businesses survive to see.
IndependentsMar 11, 2026
Virginia Jewelers Raise Nearly $30K for Children’s HospitalThe group of jewelers held a jewelry raffle in support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.
FinancialsMar 10, 2026
Signet Jewelers’ Q4 Sales Fall Flat The jewelry giant released preliminary results for the fourth quarter and full year on Monday, with final results slated to come next week.
MajorsMar 10, 2026
Saks Global to Close 15 More StoresThe retailer also gave an update on its vendor partnerships.
TrendsMar 10, 2026
Messika Names Julianne Moore as AmbassadorThe award-winning actress is the “epitome of modern allure,” the brand said.
