In a surprising turn of events that has the Strongsville community buzzing, two men appeared in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to face charges of stealing over $2 million worth of vintage baseball cards from a Best Western hotel. Jacob Paxton, a 27-year-old hotel employee, and Jason Bowling, a 50-year-old Cleveland resident, both entered not guilty pleas during their court appearance on Thursday.
Paxton, the hotel employee, faces charges of aggravated theft of $1,500,000 or more and tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $50,000, and his next court date is scheduled for July 15. On the other hand, Bowling, the second defendant in the case, pleaded not guilty to a charge of receiving stolen property. His bond was set at $100,000, and he is also set to return to court on the same date.
The elaborate heist came to light when a FedEx delivery person dropped off a package containing 54 vintage baseball cards valued at a whopping $2,123,447 at the hotel on April 17. The intended recipient was Memory Lane Inc., a company participating in a sports card conference next door. However, the plot thickened when a representative from Memory Lane Inc. arrived at the hotel on April 18 to find the package missing, triggering a swift police investigation into the disappearance.
The diligent work of the Strongsville police revealed that Paxton had been meticulously sifting through several packages delivered to the hotel and had absconded with the valuable baseball cards to Bowling’s residence in Cleveland. On May 23, authorities executed a search warrant at Bowling’s home, leading to the recovery of 52 out of the 54 stolen cards. Despite the progress made in the case, two cards are still unaccounted for: a 1909 Ramly Walter Johnson card and a 1941 Ted Williams card, adding a layer of mystery to the unfolding saga.
Individuals with any information about the whereabouts of the missing cards are urged to reach out to the Strongsville Police Department at 440.580.3247, citing report #2024-000693. As the legal proceedings continue and the search for the final two cards persists, the local community remains captivated by the intrigue surrounding the alleged theft of these prized baseball memorabilia.
