Calif. authorities nab 4th suspect in museum gold heist

Written by Associated Press

Friday, 16 November 2012 10:41

MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) – Investigators have arrested a fourth man in connection with a $1.3 million precious gem heist at a state museum in the Sierra foothills, and they say more arrests could still come.

Christopher Sheffield, 42, was taken into custody late Tuesday. The other suspects in the robbery at the California Mining and Minerals Museum in Mariposa County were also arrested on Tuesday. They are: 41-year-old Jonathan Matis, 43-year-old Matthew Campbell and 40-year-old Edward Rushing III.

The museum was open when it was stormed by masked robbers armed with pickaxes on Sept. 28. The robbers smashed display cases and made off with Gold Rush-era nuggets and other gems.

A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol says investigators are going through evidence seized at the suspects' Northern California homes.

Lt. Mike Troxell would only say that gold with some quartz had been recovered.

AP-WF-11-14-12 1958GMT

Last Updated on Friday, 16 November 2012 10:47