It was a dream to talk with one of my favorite podcasters, Kate Casey, from Reality Life with Kate Casey, about a decades old family secret that continues to reveal itself.
In February 1962, there was a manhunt underway in Los Angeles following one of the biggest jewel heists (actually two) in the City’s history– at one of America’s most famous TV homes. Approximately $320,000 worth of jewels, including a diamond necklace worth $150,000, were stolen from the Beverly Hills home of real estate developer Paul Trousdale, and the Bel Air home of famed hotelier, Arnold C. Kirkeby. In today’s dollars, the jewels would be worth millions. Some of the jewels were never recovered.
My grandfather was the ringleader in the robberies, an inside job I’ve been told. I wrote, “My Grandfather the Jewel Thief,” for the October 2025 issue of Town & Country Magazine. You can see a PDF version of the article on Instagram and, if interested, looks like there’s one for sale on eBay for $2.50.
Since the publication of the Town & Country piece, I’ve heard from and met with one of the last living witnesses (there are only two). So much new and juicy information has come to light, which I’ll be sharing when the time is right.
Stay tuned!
xo Jen
Jennifer J. Cannon 