Gerald T. Sweetser, 57, died Ocotber 24 in Brownsburg of suffocation. Sweetser, who owned a small jewelry shop in Brownsburg, had also for years entertained at birthday parties, retirement homes, and street fairs as a mime. Police suspect that as Sweetser closed up Luxe Jewelry & Gifts on Wednesday night, he was returning the merchandise to the safe in the back room when the door accidentally closed behind him. Sweetser was trapped inside the safe, which was a box that left Sweetser barely enough room to stand. "It wasn't a real big safe," reported the store's only employee, Sarah Lester of Brownsburg. "Just enough to put your hands out a little way in front of you, like this. He must have felt all around the inside of that box with his hands, looking for a way out. Tearfully, Lester continued, "I feel so guilty. I never saw him come out of the back room, but I figured he was doing the books or something, so I just left. It's so sad. If only I had heard him call for help. But the walls on that safe are really thick, so even if he'd been screaming his head off I'd never have heard a thing."
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