Ex-UFC Fighter Was One Of 2 Arrested In Howell Jewelry Robbery

HOWELL, NJ — One of the men arrested last month in a big jewelry theft from a Howell home was a promising UFC contender, Karl Roberson of Neptune, local authorities confirmed.

But now he and another Neptune man are charged in a $200,000 jewelry heist from a Howell home Dec. 26. The police made the arrests March 27 and announced them last Saturday, April 15.

Both men are currently free, pending the court case, Howell police said Monday.

Roberson, 32, is an American former kickboxer and mixed martial artist known as "Baby K." He competed in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In July 2022, it was announced that Roberson was no longer on the UFC roster. He was raised in Neptune and played baseball at Neptune High School, according to his online biography on Wikipedia.

Roberson and Dathan Thompson, also 32 and from Neptune, were arrested on March 27, police said.

The case involved the theft of $200,000 in "exotic" jewelry and valuables from a West Farms Road home the day after Christmas, recorded on home security video posted on social media at the time, police said.

"The incident received a lot of attention as the proceeds were over $200,000 in jewelry and valuables," said Police Chief John Storrow in a post on the department's social media site. "The suspects were also captured on home security video, which also went viral on social media."

Storrow confirmed Roberson was a "promising UFC fighter."

Storrow said it was "diligent detective work headed by Detective Ryan Jackson with the assistance of Detective Anthony Romano" that led to the arrests.

Thompson was located at his residence and arrested without incident, police said. He was charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief, police said.

Thompson was released on a summons, Detective Jackson said in an update on Monday.

Roberson was arrested during a motor vehicle stop in Neptune, police said, driving a vehicle that the investigation revealed had been connected to the burglary.

Following Roberson's arrest, a search warrant was obtained on the vehicle. During the search, officers found a defaced 9mm handgun with an extended magazine, several packages of suspected “crack cocaine,” marijuana, and items related to the burglary, according to police.

Roberson was charged with burglary, theft, criminal mischief, possession of controlled dangerous substance and several weapons offenses, police said.

Roberson had been in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold, but has since been released, Jackson said Monday.

Jackson also said that the items stolen have not been recovered.

Howell Detectives Jackson and Romano "conducted a comprehensive investigation utilizing advanced training in technical applications and analysis of cellular data to develop multiple suspects," Storrow said in the news release.

After the theft, the preliminary investigation of the scene showed the suspects entered the home by forcing open a rear door, after they walked from nearby woods. No one was home at the time, about 1:23 p.m. The men moved through the house to the master bedroom. Security cameras recorded periods of activity outside and inside the house, police said.

The suspects wore face masks and gloves to conceal their identity, police said. The video was circulated on social media and the homeowners offered a reward for information in the matter, police said.

Roberson is represented by attorney Tara Breslow of Freehold, Breslow confirmed, but she had no comment on the case.