Police: Millions in hot jewels leads to murder

Mark Yagalla and Sandy Bentley — Mark Yagalla

At the heart of the LAPD double-homicide investigation featured in this week's "48 Hours Mystery" is nearly $1 million worth of jewelry ripped off when the federal government seized the assets of Wall Street Ponzi-schemer Mark Yagalla, pictured left.

Police believe that Yagalla's girlfriend, Playboy model Sandy Bentley, pictured right, and her next boyfriend, nightclub doorman Michael Tardio, ripped off the jewels and planned to sell them for cash on the black market.

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Michael Tardio brought the jewels to a Beverly Hills jeweler to be appraised. As the LAPD followed the investigative trail, the jeweler still had a record of the appraisal.

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Mark Yagalla says he spent $250,000 to buy Sandy Bentley an exact replica of the necklace and earring set Julia Roberts wore in the movie "Pretty Woman." Those two pieces were likely taken by the killer or killers of Michael Tardio and his friend, Chris Monson.

The photo shown here is a significantly less expensive costume-replica set.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

A receipt for a Chopard watch that cost Mark Yagalla more than $500,000. He told "48 Hours" he "just wanted to make Sandy [Bentley] happy," and that material things made her "very, very happy."

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Sketches made by another jewelry appraiser who examined the jewels Michael Tardio and Sandy Bentley hoped to sell.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

A closer look at sketches made by another jewelry appraiser who examined the jewels Michael Tardio and Sandy Bentley hoped to sell.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

A closer look at sketches made by another jewelry appraiser who examined the jewels Michael Tardio and Sandy Bentley hoped to sell.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Standing at the side of her then-live-in boyfriend, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, Sandy Bentley is shown wearing another boyfriend's diamonds - a $150,000 necklace and earrings set purchased for her by Mark Yagalla.

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Ponzi scam artist Mark Yagalla told "48 Hours" this drawer contains $1 million in jewelry. A lawyer hired by federal authorities documented the search and seizure of the valuables inside Bentley's $3 million Las Vegas property.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

During the search and seizure, the lawyer hired by federal authorities immediately noticed suspicious empty sections of Sandy Bentley's jewelry boxes. Presumably, the missing jewels are those Michael Tardio and Bentley planned to sell for cash.

While the LAPD believes the jewelry have been broken down, melted, then sold in bits and pieces, the they are interested in hearing from anybody with any information about the them. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"

Mark Yagalla reportedly afforded his girlfriend Sandy Bentley a $100,000 monthly allowance on her American Express card which he paid with ill- gotten gains stolen from his unsuspecting clients. This bill totals $707,000 - $600,000 on Yagalla's card and $100,000 on Bentley's.

Check out their credit card bill

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Credit card bill of a $50M scam artist and Playboy girlfriend
Read story: "48 Hours Mystery: Playing With Fire"