In California, pawnshop owners are required to obtain valid photo identification for anyone who wants to sell an item. It's a good tool for police who are looking for stolen items. Ramsdell periodically ran his list of subjects through the local pawnshops, hoping for a hit.
Three weeks later it happened. A pawnshop reported that Lombardi brought in a diamond. William's widow was brought in to the shop and confirmed that the stone came from William's ring. William's longtime jeweler was shown a photograph of the diamond and recognized it immediately because of its European cut and great clarity.
The pawnshop owner said a young man initially came in with the stone but left when he was asked for identification. The next day, another person showed up with the diamond. Identification showed that he was Lombardi.
Detectives talked to Lombardi. He admitted going to the pawnshop, but said Scott gave him the diamond to sell with the deal that they would split the proceeds. Suddenly, it seemed that either Lombardi or Scott could have committed the murder, or maybe the two of them together. Lombardi had certainly been at the house often enough to get past Dante.
He was given a polygraph test that came back inconclusive — meaning that he wasn't proven innocent or guilty.
Watch this story and many others from the case files of the LAPD's Scientific Investigation Division, which solves crimes using cutting edge forensics. Only on Court TV. Learn more.
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