Diamond stolen in Edmond found in California

Friday, January 27th 2006, 11:02 am

By: News On 6

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) -- Police have recovered a $34,000 diamond that was stolen in Edmond and passed through the possession of a half-dozen people before finally being located in a gem-testing laboratory in California.

Sharon Freeny took the four-carat diamond to an appraiser and left it in her car parked on the driveway of her home. The car was burglarized and the diamond was taken. She thought she would never see it again.

"We figured whoever stole it cut it down so you wouldn't be able to recognize it," Freeny said.

Police identified Steven Anthony Cox, 20, as a suspect in the burglary. He told police two juveniles gave him the diamond, and he gave it to Nickey L. Brown, 47, to sell. Brown told police he took it to a local watch shop and sold it for $9,000.

"The individual identified himself as the original owner of the piece," Charlie Janssen, the owner of Watches, Etc. said. "He said he was going through a bad divorce and wanted to get rid of the diamond. It was a real nice diamond."

Janssen sold the diamond to Diamond and Jewelry Buyers in Tulsa, which then sold it to Diamond Connection Wholesale in Manhattan, Kan.

The Kansas company sent the diamond to the Gemological Institute of America laboratory in Carlsbad, Calif., to be examined.

Edmond police Detective Chad Langley recovered the diamond from the institute.

Cox, of Edmond, and Brown, of Arcadia, are both charged in Oklahoma County District Court with receiving stolen property.