Navajo Family's Decades of Heritage Jewelry Stolen Outside San Jose Hotel

SAN JOSE, California — A Native American family from Flagstaff, Arizona, is facing a devastating financial and emotional loss after their trailer was broken into outside a San Jose hotel, resulting in the theft of handcrafted traditional jewelry valued at up to $300,000.

Maryetta and Henry Jackson, alongside their grandson Noah Kaminski, had traveled to the Bay Area to sell their art at the annual Stanford University Powwow. The family, who are professional Navajo jewelry artists, parked their trailer at the Aloft Hotel in San Jose. Overnight, thieves forced entry into the trailer and made off with trays containing hundreds of pieces of unique, handmade heritage jewelry, as well as the specialized tools the family uses to create them.

The stolen inventory represented more than 50 years of collective work and craftsmanship. The Jacksons noted that their creations carry distinct hallmarks, including the letters "H" and "J" stamped on the silver and turquoise pieces. Because they are independent creators selling their own goods, their insurance policy does not cover the loss of the handmade inventory, leaving them with no direct path to recoup their livelihood.

The theft forced the family to pull out of the Stanford Powwow, an event they had spent months preparing for. Since the incident was reported, the Native American community and local supporters have rallied around the family, setting up GoFundMe campaigns to help them buy new tools and raw materials to rebuild their business. The San Jose Police Department is actively investigating the burglary and has urged anyone with information, or anyone who spots jewelry featuring the "H" and "J" hallmarks, to contact detectives immediately.