The case of $53,000 in missing jewelry has been solved after the arrest of a Lincoln business owner.

Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says his office has been investigating a case of missing jewelry since March 6th. Wagner says a Firth woman initially reported she stored $53,000 in jewelry inside the pedestal drawer of a new dryer she recently purchased. Wagner says the dryer was damaged during delivery, and the woman decided to return it. He says when the dryer was returned, and a new one was delivered, she feared the two boxes of jewelry were left inside the first pedestal drawer.

Wagner says during the investigation, the first drawer was located and checked, but the jewelry was not there. According to court documents, the woman later indicated the jewelry could have been inside the drum of an original dryer she had before buying the new one.

Court documents show the original dryer ended up at Todd's Appliances at 10th and Garfield Streets. Sheriff Wagner says the owners of the business, Todd and Tessa Hamersma, were contacted. Wagner says Todd Hamersma told investigators he did find the two boxes of jewelry in the old dryer drum. Wagner says Hamersma eventually sold the jewelry, after waiting a month to see if anyone would report it missing.

"There's indication that $6,100 of the money received from the jewelry was used to pay back taxes," Sheriff Wagner says.

Wagner says Hamersma sold the jewelry to a Lincoln jewelry store. Wagner says the jewelry store was very cooperative in helping with the investigation. Some of the jewelry was recovered, however, Wagner says some of it was already melted down.

Todd Hamersma was arrested by Lancaster County deputies for Theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake (Class IV Felony). His wife, Tessa Hamersma, was cited and released for Accessory to a Felony.