Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders

Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Portland, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Monday, March 9th, I received the following voicemail

“Hey, my name is Patrick. I got your telephone number off of your Facebook page for finding rings. I was hoping you’d be able to find mine. I mean, Portland. If you give me a call. Um, I’d appreciate it. My cell phone number is 860-***-****. Thank you
I called Patrick back immediately after listening to his voicemail, at 2:15pm. I asked Patrick what had happened and he relayed the story that he was building a new porch and front stairs , in Portland Maine. About 45 minutes earlier he noticed his wedding ring, of almost 10 years, was no longer on his finger. He stopped what he was doing and searched the sidewalk, in front of the area he had been working. Patrick had been cutting wood, , building the porch/stairs and walking back and forth to his work van, parked on the street. The ring was not seen and that was when Patrick called me. Patrick had to leave and be in Waterboro, for 3:30pm, to pick his children up, when they got off the bus. It was now just after 2:30pm and I told Patrick I would load my metal detector up and head right right in. My concern, as well as Patricks was that anyone walking past the house, would be able to see the ring and just pick it up. Time is of the essence, when jewelry is lost in public spaces.
As Cheryl and I were driving in, Patrick texted me and told me , “Ive got someone to get the kids off the bus so I’ll be here when you get here. Thank you!” Perfect!!! Cheryl and I arrived a short time later and Patrick showed me the areas of a few snowbanks, some leaves and under the new set of stairs. I asked Patrick a bunch of questions, as I always do. Patrick wasn’t 100% sure he had the ring on, when he left the house, but was pretty sure. He thought the ring may be under the porch, in all the leaves. So, now I just need to grid search the area, snow banks, along the house and under the porch. I grabbed my Manticore and started at the snow bank, to the left of the porch and on the other side of the sidewalk. Nothing found, in the snow. I then moved across the sidewalk and started searching the leaves, along the house. Still no wedding ring but lots of the usual trash. I then was searching underneath the porch but wasn’t getting any targets. Patrick was removing the remaining leaves from underneath the porch, with a rake. As Patrick was still removing leaves the leaves, I went to the small area of snow, just to the right of the porch. Still no ring. I turned towards the street and started searching the snow bank, on the other side and along the sidewalk. As I started searching I received a nice sounding target , ringing up between 32-34, on the VDI screen. As I looked closer, I could see the partial shape of a ring, in the snow, but hidden by a leaf. I looked at Patrick and told him that I had found his ring. He looked stunned and walked over to me. I then reached down, moved the leaf, picked the ring up and asked Patrick if that was his ring. Patrick verified it was his ring and a big smile broke out across our faces.
Patrick then told Cheryl and I he’s had the ring for almost 10 years. He will be celebrating his 10th anniversary on March 21st. WOW!!! He lost his wedding ring just 12 days before his 10th Anniversary. Thankfully we were able to find this extremely sentimental wedding ring and fast. Patrick and his wife will now be able to celebrate a milestone anniversary without any stress of trying to find his ring. This is a perfect example of why I love doing this. This ring meant everything to Patrick and I just get the best feeling, to be able to find these special pieces of jewelry. There is no better feeling, in the world, than to see the joy, happiness and smiles on people’s faces, when they get their ring back.
Another smile on the pile and another ring back on the finger. I love my job, it the best job in the world 😀❤️🙏

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Platinum And Diamond Anniversary Ring Lost In The Snow At Ice Fishing Derby, In Monmouth, Maine Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following voicemail, late Saturday afternoon, February 21, 2026
“Hi, this is Justin L******. I’m calling uh, because I live in North Yarmouth, Maine , and uh, earlier this morning, it seems like my wife lost her ring. We have an idea of where it could be as a general area, but wasn’t sure if uh, you could provide any services to help us locate it. Now, if you could please give me a call back. My number is 207-***_****. Thank you. Bye.”
I immediately called Justin back and after asking him what happened, Justin gave me all the details. Justin, his wife Jackie and their children, had traveled to Cochnewagon Lake, in Monmouth, Maine . The family was attending the “Jacks Traps Youth Ice Fishing Derby”, which is an annual event, attended by literally hundreds and hundreds of people. Anyways, just before arriving to the lake, Jackie took her 10 year Anniversary Ring off and placed it, on a hat, that was in her lap. The very sentimental ring was a gift from Justin and is a Platinum and Diamond Ring. Jackie took the ring off to apply sunblock on her and her children’s faces. They would be out, on the lake all day, with no shelter, from the sun and as I always say, safety first. Once she finished applying the sunblock and they arrived, she exited the vehicle, helped unload all the equipment and then the family went a couple hundred yards, out onto the lake, where the children, enjoyed the fishing derby, around the drilled fishing holes. Towards the end of the day, the family went over to the Awards Ceremony and watched that for a while. While at the awards ceremony, Jackie took her gloves off and her stomach knotted up, her heart skipped a beat, as soon as she noticed her beloved anniversary ring was no longer on her finger. Jackie and Justin immediately going through the days events and thought the ring must have fallen into the parking lot, when she got out of the vehicle or possibly, still in the vehicle. Since they were way out on the lake, they decided to start searching the immediate area of where they were standing. Unfortunately, there was too much snow and to many people, in the area. If the ring was there, it was beneath the packed down snow. They then went back to the area, where the family had been ice fishing. Again, they did not find the ring, in all that snow. They also checked the parking lot and did not see the ring but the parking lot was full of vehicles and people. They went home with a very distraught Jackie thinking of nothing but her missing anniversary ring. Once home, Justin remembered seeing an article on The Ring Finders of Maine, from a few years earlier. Once he searched Ring Finder Maine, he saw many of my posts and that was when he contacted me.
I told Justin that being so late in the afternoon, I could meet him first thing in the morning, at 7:00am, right around sunrise. I would also see if Gary Hill was available to assist, in such a large, potentially, search area. I would also bring a backup metal detector, for him to use, if he would like. Three of us searching, what could be an area of a couple of football fields, large, would definitely be better than just me. Time is of the essence, in all lost ring recoveries. The ring was lost in a public area and someone may have seen it in the parking lot or out on the ice already and picked it up. The other big concern was the upcoming blizzard, in just 36 hours, on Monday morning. If we didn’t find it soon, it may be gone forever or damaged beyond repair, by a snowplow, in the parking lot. Justin signed right up for using my backup metal detector, without hesitation. Justin was closer to Monmouth Maine and he was actually heading back up there to search the parking lot, once everyone had dispersed. He would let me know if he found it. An hour or two later and now dark, Justin called me with the news of the ring still lost. He and Jackie told me the parking lot was very slushy and snow was packed, from everyone driving and walking on it, during the day. As the sun was now gone, they were worried the ring would freeze , in the slush and asked if the metal detectors would be able to find the ring, if it was frozen in the slush or snow. I told them yes, absolutely. I also told them I would bring test/set up rings, including a platinum ring to set up, calibrate the detectors and show Justin what he would be listening for, as he swung a metal detector.
So the next morning, Sunday February 22nd, Gary and I left our homes, at 5:35am, for the approximately hour and twenty minute drive to Monmouth, Maine. Once we arrived, I sent Justin a text , letting him know we were there and he replied he was only 5-10 out, from arriving. Gary and I looked out at the lake and were praying we didn’t have to go out there and search, such a very large area. As we were getting our equipment out of the car, Justin pulled in. After a few pleasantries, Justin pointed out the area they had parked, yesterday and the route Jackie had walked down to the lake. Once we calibrated the machines and Justin was shown how to use the detector, we headed towards the area where we were all hoping the ring would be.
Since our metal detectors will interfere with with other, if they are to close to each other, Gary started going up along the snowbank, towards the area, where they had parked. I asked Justin to search the area, between the two parking lots, but closer to the second lot, so as we wouldn’t interfere with each other . I would follow Gary, in the area he had skipped over. Nothing was found along the snow bank other than a dime and a few targets, in the ground. Justin had come over to see what the targets looked like as I explained why some of the targets could not be a platinum ring. Gary and I would now search the area, closest to the lot Jackie had been in. I would start on the right side, along the snow bank, Gary would be about 8-10 feet behind me, and a few steps to my left. We call this the snowplow grid search. It’s like the snowplows, on the Maine Turnpike. One plow will be in the far right lane, one in the center lane and one in the passing lane, each plow covering ground, the other plows don’t get. After a few steps, Justin had a target and I went over to see what it was. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Jackie’s ring. I i returned to where I had left off and as I arrived, Gary said to me, “Hey, I’ve got a really good target, 14 on the VDI. It’s down in the ice and snow. I grabbed my detector and checked the signal and it sounded really great, but was it the ring? Gary got his pinpointer out, located the target and very carefully, chiseled the ice and snow away. Gary really didn’t want to damage the target. As he was removing the ice and snow, we caught a small glimpse of a silver colored ring, with diamonds. Gary has found Jackie’s anniversary ring, YES!!! I looked over at Justin and shouted out, “We got it, Gary found the ring”. Justin came running over and Gary pointed to the ring still buried in the ice and snow and gave Justin the honor of removing the ring. Once Justin removed the ring and took a photo, he sent a text to Jackie. Justin then called Jackie, with the good news Jackie was pleased, over the moon happy and I can’t be certain but I thought her voice cracked a time or two. Gary and I also noticed a few happy tears coming down Justin’s face. He was extremely happy and he was wearing his emotions, on his sleeve. When I congratulated Justin and stuck my hand out, for a handshake. Justin wouldn’t have it and gave me a big hug with a smile, ear to ear
A beautiful moment for Jackie and Justin. Gary and I do this, for exactly these reasons. There is no better feeling in the world than to be able to help return such sentimental items. As we always say, every ring has a story and now Jackie’s anniversary ring has a new chapter. Gary and I were on cloud nine, as we said goodbye to Justin. Another ring back on the finger. We have the best job in the world. We love our job!!!
Once home, I received the following message from Justin
“Thank you so much Dennis, I am eternally grateful for your help finding my wife’s ring. I’m still taken aback about your willingness to come and help at a moments notice. In today’s world, it makes you remember that there are still so many good people out there, and you stand out.”
Also, Please check out the video of Justin removing the ring, from the snow and ice and Jackie and Justin’s conversation , over the phone.
We have the best job in the world. We love our job!!!❤️🙏
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Engagement and Wedding Ring, Lost In The North Waterboro, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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With 5 inches of freshly fallen snow overnight, Chery and I were out cleaning up the driveway and walkway, around our home. Once inside, I saw the following text message
“Hi! My name is Whitney, I’m reaching to contact Dennis at the Ring Finders of Maine. I lost my wedding ring in the snow this morning and wondering if you may be able to please help me find it? I received several recommendations to reach out to you, so sounds like you’re the guy we need!!”
I didn’t hesitate and called Whitney back immediately. Whitney told me she had gone out the morning and was between her porch stairs and the door to her garage, when she fell. She had been trying to pull up an extension cord, out of the snow , down near the garage. Once inside her home, Whitney realized she no longer had her Platinum Wedding ring on. Whitney and her husband went out and searched the area but had no luck. Whitney told me the ring should be a very defined area of no larger than 20’ X 20’ and more likely in a 10’ X 10’ area. Whitney had already left home, for a work meeting but would be home in 1 1/2 to 2 hours. We agreed I would meet her in about two hours, at her home, in North Waterboro, Maine.
So, a few hours later, Cheryl and I arrived at Whitney’s house and she said , I saw you on TV last night. I asked her if that is how she had heard about The Ring Finders of Maine and I was told that Whitney had placed a Facebook post, looking for help. Whitney then told me that she had many replies telling her to contact me and here we are. Whitney then showed us the very small area, she thought the ring would be in. I took out a test/set up ring and threw it in the snow. The ring disappeared, under the snow and I then ran my coil over the ring and it made a nice loud low tone. I told Whitney that was the sound we would be listening for. I then told Whitney that I would start a grid search, starting just a few feet out, of where she had fallen and I would follow her footsteps, towards the extension cord and garage door. I started my search and within 30 seconds, I received a loud low tone, reading 21, on the VDI screen. No way, could this be the wedding ring Whitney had lost? Whitney said “that is just about where I fell”. I removed my pinpointer and found the target, under the snow. As I scraped away the snow, I saw what appeared to be the side of a ring and said “We got a ring. I heard a “gasp”, from Whitney, as she quickly made her way over to me and when she looked down at the ring she said “Oh my gosh”. I then asked her if that was her ring and she replied “Yes, I think so”. The ring was still 80% buried in the snow and after taking a few photos, I pulled the ring out and there was no doubt the ring was Whitney’s wedding ring.
After a hug and some photos Cheryl and I left a smiling Whitney, standing approximately where the wedding ring had been found. Thankfully, another ring is back on the finger and another smile, for the smile pile. I love my job, it’s the best job in the world ❤️🙏
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Tungsten Wedding Ring Lost In The Hollis Center, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following text, at 5:20pm, Super Bowl Sunday,

“Hello, I saw your profile on The Ring Finders! My name is Steven, I lost my ring in my yard this evening in the snow and I cannot find it for the life of me. I live in Hollis Center, Maine, and would very much appreciate your service. Thank you for your time and have a great day!”

I immediately called Steven back and asked him what had happened. Steven told me that after finishing up a few things, he had been doing outside, he was about to enter his house through the back door, to his basement. Just before entering, he shook his hands, to remove the melting snow, from his hands. As he shook his hands, standing directly in front of the door, he felt his Tungsten Wedding Ring slipping off his finger. He then heard the ring, hit the hard packed snow, of the walkway, in front of the door. Steven didn’t hear the ring hit anything else, after the ring had hit the hard packed snow but the ring wasn’t on the walkway and Steven had no idea as to which way the ring had bounced. Had it gone off to the side of him, in front of him, in back of him? He just didn’t know and with areas of snow still up to 18” deep, his search of the surrounding area was futile. Trying to find something as small as a wedding ring in up to 18” of snow is virtually impossible, with the naked eye. Steven knew he needed help and that was when he reached out to me. I told Steven that since it was now dark outside I could come and search the next day, when I would have plenty of sunlight, to assist me. Even with a metal detector, I would need plenty of light because it really is difficult to see a ring, in the snow, even after my metal detector locates it. Plus, This was on Steven’s private property where there was no chance of a plow, shovel, snowblower, etc. would move the ring, outside of the area. There was also no chance of someone walking through the area, seeing the ring, on the walkway. Steven would leave the area undisturbed, until I was able to arrive, the next day.
Once I arrived, Steven immediately came out to meet me and I had brought a Tungsten ring with me to set up and calibrate my metal detector. I told Steven that Tungsten is a Non Ferrous, mid conducting metal and usually rings up in the 50’s on the Minelab Manticore, although I have found a few that have rung up in the high 40’s and low 60’s. I threw the ring into the snow and then show Steven how I hoped to find his ring. My coil found my test ring loud and clear, impressing Steven that he could actually hear the target. I then used my pinpointer and showed him how the pinpointer worked. Once I pinpointed the target, I still couldn’t see the ring, in the close to 12” of deep snow. I kept removing snow and finally it appeared. Thankfully there was plenty of sunshine to help me. Steven then took me to the back of the house, down a walkway, and showed me exactly where he had been standing, when his wedding ring came off of his finger. I looked at the area and my first thought was that the ring most likely didn’t land in front of him. The motion of shaking his hands, suggested to me that the ring would have gone behind him, possibly to his left side. He hadn’t heard anything, other that the wedding ring hitting the hard packed snow. Directly in front of him was his house and the ring didn’t hit the house or another hard object. Again, just lots of snow behind him. I started my metal detector up and stood where he had been standing and searched the snow to the immediate left of where he was shaking his hand. Nothing found. I then turned around and started searching behind where he had been and on just on the outside area, of the walkway. The area was very clean of any metal and just 2-3 minutes into the search, I received a strong signal, reading 56-57 on the Minelab Manticore’s VDI Screen. Definitely a non ferrous, mid conducting metal. I was pretty sure this was the wedding ring, as it was nice and loud and repeating. As I brushed the snow away, the ring came into focus and Steven broke out into a smile and giggle, saying “So fast”. I then asked Steven if that was his ring and he confirmed that it was his wedding ring and saying, “That’s wonderful, Thank you so much. I love this ring, more than anything. We just got married a couple of months ago, in October.” WOW, Newlyweds!!!! That explains this a little more. Cold, wet fingers, a new ring, that probably doesn’t fit quite right. What could possibly go wrong? As you all know, I have helped many newlyweds over the years. Experience tells me that most newlyweds have rings that are not the proper size and before you know it, the ring is gone. Thankfully for Steven, this happened right in his own backyard. I mentioned to Steven that he should probably get a clear silicone ring sizer , for his ring. You can get them at Amazon, Walmart or a jeweler, etc.. Usually less than $10.00 and you would have piece of mind that your ring is nice and snug, on your finger.
So another happy, smiling client and another ring, back on the finger. I love my job and it’s the best job, in the world.

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Wallet Lost And Found In Biddeford, Maine Returned To Owner In Saco, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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So this is a very different Recovery and Return for me. No one called me, I didn’t have a metal detector and the owner didn’t even know, he had lost his item, a wallet.

My elderly mother no longer drives and Cheryl and I take her grocery shopping and to her Dr’s appointments. This morning, my mother had a dermatologist appointment, in Biddeford. I picked her up, from her home, in Saco, Maine and drove her to the appointment, in Biddeford, Maine. When we arrived, I was walking around the rear of the vehicle, to open the car door for her, when I saw a wallet, standing up, on its sides. It was just 2 parking spots over from us and as I approached, I could see some cash and some cards. I put the wallet in my inside coat pocket and helped my mother, towards the door, to the Dr’s office. Other cars were coming in and within a minute, before we were even in the door, to the Dr’s, someone parked where the wallet was. One minute later and I would never have seen the wallet.
Once checked in, I opened the wallet, looking for identification and or a phone number. No phone number was found but the drivers license belonged to a John B******. John’s address was in Saco and I knew where the street was. If John did’t walk into the Dr’s office, I would simply drive the wallet to John, after driving my mother home. His address is only 6-7 miles, from my house, in Saco. As I am sitting in the waiting room, I figured I could do a little internet sleuthing and see if I could find a phone number. I did find a landline number for John, at that address but when I called, it had been disconnected. I then tried Facebook and I found John’s Facebook profile, sending him the following message

“Hi John, My name is Dennis Boothby and I have a Facebook Page, The Ring Finders of Maine. I have found a wallet, in Biddeford and I believe it is yours. Could you please call me I am currently still in Biddeford, while my mother is having a procedure done. Thank you, Dennis” I also sent John a photo of my Rack Business Card, with my photo, so he wouldn’t think this was a scam.

I just wanted John to know his wallet had been found and didn’t want him to be out looking for it and worrying. Once my mother was done, at the dermatologist , I drove her home and then Cheryl and I drove out to John’s home. Once at John’s home, John’s wife, Mel answered the door, looked at me and said, “You look awfully familiar.” I then handed Mel my business card and introduced myself. Mel then says “Oh my gosh, Yes, I follow you and your stories.” Mel then told me John wasn’t home and that he had gone to their church, to help with something. I then asked Mel if John had lost his wallet. She told me that she hadn’t heard he had but would call him and ask. I then pulled out John’s wallet and Mel said that it was John’s wallet and then placed the call to John. The conversation went something like this, “Hi Honey, do you have your wallet?” John replied that yes he had taken his wallet with him. Mel then told John that I had found his wallet and that she was actually holding it. I believe John was stunned for a second, most likely checking his pockets, before saying that he didn’t have it and that he had put his wallet, in his hat, while at the Dr’s office. John surmises the wallet must have fallen out of his hat, as he was about to get in his car. John then thanked me, over the phone and was extremely kind, with his words to me. Mel was also very thankful and asked me for a hug. Mel also told me how lucky they were that I had found the wallet because if someone else had found it, the ending may have been entirely different. I would hope that anyone would have done the right thing and returned the wallet. So, a very different type of return but the gratification was the same. Although I wasn’t able to meet John, I am sure he was smiling, as Mel told him his wallet was safe and sound, at home. I know Mel, Cheryl and myself had big smiles on our faces. I love doing this for others and have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Three Gold Rings, Engagement, Wedding, Lost In The Kennebunk, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Just before 5:00pm, Friday January 30th, I received the following message , from Maggie

“Hey, are you close to Kennebunk, Maine ? We have an individual who lost three rings in the snow after tossing a ball for the dog. What is the cost to have them searched for?”

I replied “Hi So sorry to hear this. I do not charge for my Emergency Metal Detecting Services or my Time. I do however have a Transportation Fee of $25.00 to Kennebunk and that’s it.”

Maggie replied “When can you come? 80 York St”

I replied “Well, it would be dark before I can get to Kennebunk Maine tonight. I need good lighting, to find a ring in the snow. I could be there first thing in the morning, 7:00am, 8:00am or whatever works for you.”

We agreed that I would arrive at their location, bright and early, at 7:00am, as the sun was coming up. Maggie then explained the location was actually The Mooring , a Memory Care Facility and also a Respite Center, just off of Rt 1, in Kennebunk , Maine and not far from the Wells Maine town line. Mary is a caregiver , to the elderly, a very demanding job. Mary is staying at the Respite Center, for a short time and had been playing with a Labrador puppy named Millie. They were playing just outside the door, on the patio. Mary had been throwing a ball, into the snow and Millie had been retrieving the ball, bringing the ball back to Mary and repeating the playful game over and over. At some point during the playful game, Mary noticed her three rings were missing. The rings were a Yellow Gold Engagement Ring, a Yellow Gold Wedding Ring and a White Gold Ring, which was a gift, from her husband. All three rings had Diamonds in them and Mary was just beside herself, that the rings were no longer on her finger. Maggie, a staff member at The Mooring, told me that she would be working from 7:00am to 7:00pm, the next day and she would let me into the secure facility, to search for the rings.
So, Saturday morning , I left my home, in Saco, Maine, in the pre dawn hours, at 6:30am. I arrived right at 7:00am. Maggie was in the vestibule waiting for me and took me inside to meet Mary. Mary repeated the story that had been told to me, by Maggie and we then went outside, to the patio area. Mary showed me where she had been standing, on the patio, while throwing the ball. She also pointed in the direction that she had been throwing the ball. The most likely place the rings would be were just on the other side of a table and chairs, on the patio. I was then told that Mary and others, including staff had searched the area already but hadn’t been able to find any of the three rings. I could see the area had been disturbed quite a bit and was hoping the rings hadn’t been pushed too far down, into the snow or even moved out of the area. After shoveling quite a bit, a few days earlier, for a cell phone, I really wasn’t looking forward to shoveling more snow. But, I had brought my shovel, just in case.
I started the search by moving a few chairs out of the way and pushing the table slightly back, from the deep snow bank. I then started searching the snow, on the patio itself and nothing was found, until a minute into the search, when I received my first target. It was not the ring, but something under the patio. I then received a loud repeating target , near the base of the snowbank. It was definitely a non ferrous target and was ringing up a solid 41, on the VDI screen. As I moved the snow aside, with my hand, I saw the outline of a Yellow Gold Ring. WOW, only a minute or so and the first ring had been found. I passed the ring, to a now emotional Mary, who had some happy tear, in the corner of her eyes. Mary identified the ring, as her wedding ring. Well, that was easy enough and I knew the other rings had to be very close by. Another minute or two and I received another solid low tone non ferrous target, reading 25 on the VDI screen. This target was in the side of the snowbank and as I was brushing the snow away, a ring fell out of the snowbank. I reached down, picked it up and it was Mary’s Yellow Gold Engagement Ring. I passed it to Maggie and I could see Mary, on the patio, with happy tears still flowing. Now just one more ring. The White Gold Ring that was a gift from her husband. Almost immediately, I received a very low tone, non ferrous, reading 15 on the VDI screen. This just had to be the White Gold Ring and it was located just slightly higher, in the snowbank, than the Engagement Ring and less than a foot away. As I removed snow, with my hand, I saw the white band of the ring, sticking out of the snowbank. YES, SUCCESS!!! All three rings were now back on Mary’s finger and she was just so happy to have them back. Mary told me she hadn’t slept at all, last night because her precious rings were gone. Her husband was coming to visit her at 8:00am and she hadn’t called and told him that she had lost the rings. Now she had them back, she had no more worries. It wasn’t even 7:30am and she was just so relieved the rings had been found, prior to her husband’s arrival.
We all went back inside, as it was very cold. When I had arrived, the air temperature was a -3 degrees, without the wind chill. As we were talking and warming up, Maggie told me that she has followed my stories for years and knew who to contact, as soon as Mary told her about her lost rings. As we were all celebrating and smiling I took a photo of Maggie holding the three rings. Mary had asked me not to include any photos of her, in the story, like many other of my clients have in the past. Mary told me she is just not a social media person and I always honor their wish, not to have there photo included. Mary did say I could use the photo of her rings, back on her finger and I could sense a big change in her demeanor. Mary was now smiling, happy and most of all, she couldn’t wait to see her husband, just a half hour from now. What a beautiful moment seeing Mary smiling, awaiting to see her beloved husband, with the precious and sentimental rings, back on her finger, where they belong. I truly have the best job, in the world.🤗❤️🙏

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Cell Phone Lost While Plowing Snow In North Berwick, Maine Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday, January 27th, I received a message from Donna, a friend of my wife Cheryl and a follower of my Facebook Page. Donna asked if I would be able to find a cell phone, in a snowbank. She told me that a friend of hers, Bob, had lost his cell phone, while out plowing, a few days earlier, on Sunday. I replied that I could absolutely find cell phones but I had a few concerns,
1. How big was the snowbank? If the phone was in too deep, the detector wouldn’t be able to find it, unless we broke the snowbank down, by shoveling.
2. Has he any idea where and which snowbank, the phone would be in?
Donna then replied that she would have Bob call me directly and he could inform me, of what happened. The next day Bob called me and explained what had happened. He was plowing a very long driveway, in North Berwick (Maine) . On his first pass, of the driveway, he stopped after pushing the first plow full of snow, into a big snowbank, from the previous storms. He stopped as he was backing up, from the snowbank, maybe 20-25 feet from the snowbank, because his windshield was all icy and he couldn’t see properly. He exited the cab of the truck, cleared the windshield and returned to the cab of the truck. He backed up a little more and began plowing, up in the area of where he had gotten out of the truck. When that area was clear, he was backing up, further down the hill part of driveway, when his earpiece , for his phone, said that his phone had become disconnected and was out of range. Bob was surprised because he thought the phone was on top of the center console. He searched the cab of his truck, but his phone wasn’t there. Bob drove back to the end of the driveway, where he had pushed the first plow full of snow and his earpiece reconnected, with his phone. He looked around the driveway but couldn’t see the phone. That could mean only one thing, he had plowed his phone, into the large snowbank, at the end of the driveway. I agreed to meet Bob the next day, at 9:30am and Bob said he would be bringing someone with him, to help shovel, if needed. I told Bob I would also brig a shovel and a second metal detector, which someone would be able to use.
So, Thursday morning, January 29th, I met Bob and Jason at the property, where the phone was lost at. It was now 4 days after the phone was lost and Bob’s earpiece would no longer connect, with the phone. The freezing cold, over the 4 days had drained the battery. The snowbank was maybe 20-25 feet long and approximately 6 feet high. That is a lot of snow. Bob showed me where he had gotten out of the truck and where he had plowed, right after getting back into the truck. Bob was fairly confident the phone would be in the of the center of the snowbank. If we looked at the snowbank and divided it up into quarters, Bob thought it would be in one of the two middle quarters. We decided I would search the two middle quarters and if I didn’t find there phone, I would then search the two end quarters. After searching the entire front side of the snowbank, I didn’t receive any targets at all. Bob and Jason would start breaking down the front side of the snowbank, by shoveling and throwing the snow, into the driveway. I would go to the backside of the snowbank and search the backside. As I stepped off the top of the snowbank I literally went straight down into the very soft snow, up to my waist. Bob also, at the top of the snowbank had the same happen to him. We both had boots full of snow and had to remove the snow before starting back up. After searching the backside, still no targets at all. Bob and Jason had shoveled a few feet off the front side and they were exhausted. I started my other metal detector up and Bob started searching the front side. Over the next hour or so, Bob, Jason and myself took turns shoveling and metal detecting, with no luck at all. Bob started losing hope and said he would find it in the spring, when the snow melted. With the snowbank now approximately half the size it was when we started I asked Bob if he could take his plow and push the remaining snowbank back a little bit, to expose the deeper snow, towards the bottom of the snow bank. Maybe a foot or two at a time and I would then search the newly exposed snow. None of us wanted to keep shoveling as it would take an hour os so to finish, just the center area. Bob readily agreed to give it a try. Bob then pushed back a foot or so of the snowbank and I went in to search the area. No targets were found. Bob repeated the process and I once again went back and searched the area. As I searched towards the top of the newly plowed snow, I received a loud target and I knew deep down, it was the phone. We had literally not received any targets at all, in this snowbank and now, BOOM, a loud target. I started removing snow, with my hand as Jason looked on and Bob was still in the plow truck. As the snow was being removed, I saw the black top frame, of the phone. Jason and I turned to Bob and told him we had found it. Bob walked over and saw the phone sticking out of the snow bank and said “Wow, thats amazing”. Bob was very happy and was planning on taking it over to the Verizon store, in Sanford, Maine. They have something that they can do to dry the phone out in an hour and then download all the data, onto Bob’s new phone.
This certainly was one of the tougher recoveries I have done. Bob, Jason and myself were beat, after all that shoveling. But, It was all worth it, seeing how happy Bob was to have his phone back. As you know, phones are very expensive now and by recovering the phone, any insurance plans Bob has would cover any damage and the phone can now be used as a trade in. After an hour and a half or so, I was ready to go home, as were Bob and Jason. As I drove off, Bob had to finish cleaning up the driveway, because of all the snow, we had thrown onto it. You can bet he was using the plow and not the shovels. So, another phone, back in the pocket and another smile on their face. I truly have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏
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Engagement Ring Lost In The Newmarket, New Hampshire Snow Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

I received the following message, at 7:30am, Monday January 27th,

“Hello, my name is Marissa B****. I’m located in Newmarket, New Hampshire . Um, I was just calling, um, to see if someone could come out and help me potentially very quickly. Um, I was getting snow off my car and my ring fell off my finger and it’s somewhere in the snow and I’ve just been searching for it and I didn’t know if someone just could come and help me. I live in an apartment building and they’re gonna come plow soon. Um, so I was just wondering if you could help me out, my number is 603-***_****. Thank you very much.”

I immediately called Marissa back and I could tell she was upset by her cracking voice and what sounded like sobbing. Marissa explained that as she was cleaning her vehicle off, her White Gold and Yellow Diamond Engagement Ring had come off and landed in the snow. Marissa and her fiance’ had searched the snow where the ring had fallen but they couldn’t find it. To add even more pressure, the snowplows, that plow the large apartment complex, were just a few buildings away and would be at her building, within two hours. She asked if I could come down there, ASAP, and search. Without hesitation I told Marissa, I would load my equipment up and be there as soon as I could. I also asked her to not have the plows, plow where her car was parked, until I could get there. I knew Newmarket, was just a little SW of Portsmouth New Hampshire and was an hour away, from our home in Saco, Maine, on a good day. This morning the roads were still slick, with black ice and the plows were still out. Hopefully, The Maine Turnpike would be all clear. Marissa agreed to talk with the plow operators, should they arrive, before I do.
Once I was on the road, I called a still emotional Marissa and told her I was already on the Maine Turnpike and gave her an ETA. As soon as I told her that, I could hear a little relief, in her voice . Just knowing someone was on their way to help her, calmed her down. As Cheryl and I made our way down to New Hampshire, the traffic was flowing smoothly, although a little slower, than normal. We arrived at her apartment complex in approximately 1 1/4 hours, about 15 minutes slower, than usual. Once we got out of the vehicle, a cold stiff wind hit us. Temperature at the arrival time was 10 degrees with a feel like wind chill temperature of -2 degrees, brrrrr🥶🥶🥶
We were met by Marissa and she showed me where her car was parked, when her engagement ring came off. It was a very small area and I could see all the disturbed snow, where Marissa and her fiance’ had been searching, without any luck. After throwing a gold test ring, in the snow and showing Marissa how the metal detector works, I got down to business. I performed an east/west grid search. A few targets were heard but I knew they weren’t the engagement ring. I then searched the area again, this time in a north/South grid pattern. Still no engagement ring was found. I had only been searching for 10 minutes and already had searched the very small area, twice, with no luck. I then expanded the search, to just over the piles of snow and within a few minutes, I received the tone I was listening for. A nice low tone, reading 15-16 on the detectors VDI screen. A classic gold target, for a small ring. I grabbed my pinpointer and located the target, in the snow. Once located , I could see the outline of a ring, with some stones but couldn’t make out the color of the stone. I wanted to surprise Marissa so without telling her I had found the ring, I asked her about the color of the stone and she replied “The diamond, yellow”. I then reached down, picked up the ring, from the snow and asked, “Is this it?’ As Marissa walked towards me I could see her eyes welling up and she then thanked me, as she turned away from the camera. Marissa then gave me a hug and I could see the happy tears. What a great feeling it is to be able to help people like Marissa. She was possibly an hour away from having her diamond plowed and lost forever or even damaged, beyond repair. As the weather was brutally cold, Marissa then went back inside her apartment and Cheryl and I quickly jumped back in our vehicle and turned the heat up.
Being retired came into play today because if I was still working, a regular job, , I would not have been able to leave immediately and who knows what might have happened, with the ring. As I always preach, time is of the essence and this was a situation that proves that’s saying. So Cheryl and I went hunting for a HOT Dunkin” coffee for her, for our drive home. Once she got a little coffee in her, Cheryl became a happy camper. I was a happy camper, as soon as I saw Mariss’s engagement ring, in the snow. Another ring, back on the owners finger and I truly have the best job, in the world.❤️🙏

 

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Key Fob Keys Lost In The South Portland, Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

I received the following text, on Christmas Day , from Angelique

“Hi!! I am so sorry to bother you on Christmas Day and I do not expect you to respond! But I lost the only key to my rental car in my backyard.
I am panicked. Is there any way you are working tomorrow and could help?
Thank you so very much, and I’m sorry to bother you on Christmas Day! Like I said I don’t expect you to respond today. Merry Christmas 🎄”

I replied
“So sorry to hear this. Why do you think it’s in the backyard? Is this a key? Key Fob or both? Also, I am not at home until later tonight and I am booked, first thing tomorrow morning. Where are you located?”

Angelique replied,
It’s a fob on a key ring, and i drove it to the yard to let my dog run. When i went to get back in the car, it said “key not detected. I am in South Portland, Maine? The key was in my jacket pocket while i was in the yard with the dog. The rental company says there are no spares, and i have to drive it back to DC.”

I replied
“Ok, I can definitely get to Southportland,ME tomorrow. Possibly late morning, depending on how the first search goes. Definitely tomorrow afternoon, at the latest. I am currently up in Casco, Maine, at Our Granddaughter’s house and won’t be home until tonight.”

Angelique replied,

“I totally understand, and I am so grateful that you responded today.
I have to take my mother to the doctor’s in the morning (with her car) and will be back in South Portland by 10:30. Other than that I can make myself available ANY time that works for you. If you can give me like a 30-min heads up I would appreciate it.
I rented a metal detector and have done two passes so far, with no luck. I’m not sure it can pick it up under the snow?
So sorry to interrupt Christmas. I will wait to hear from you tomorrow!”

Angelique had lost the key fob, during the snow storm, Christmas Eve morning and hadn’t been able to find it since then, even with a rented metal detector.
So this morning, I was out the door at 6:15am, for my first search of the morning, in Falmouth Maine (more on this search, at a later date) and the cold 🥶 slapped me right in the face. When I arrived at the first search, the temperature was 5 degrees, with a wind chill of -11🥶. Thankfully I dressed accordingly and other than my toes, I was nice and toasty, the entire time.
I arrived at the home, of Angelique’s mother, but they weren’t home, from the Dr’s appointment, yet. Thankfully Angelique gave me a perfect description, of her movements, from 2 days earlier. I was also thankful the temperature was now a balmy 11 degrees, with a wind chill temperature of -1 degrees. A regular heat wave.
I decided to follow the exact movements that Angelique had done and would start on the left side of the house and follow the walkway, to the gate. If the key fob wasn’t there, I would then search the path, across the front lawn, down the right side of the house and ending up in the backyard. I turned my metal detector on and started down the left side, of the house. I hadn’t gone more than 8-10 feet when I received a very loud signal, from underneath the snow. I took my foot and pushed the snow aside and there it was, the key fob. Are you kidding me? Literally less than a minute into the search and I had found Angelique’s key fob. Angelique wouldn’t have to worry about laying out $500.00 to $1000.00 , to the rental car company, for a tow and new fob replacement. WOW, Merry Christmas and what a relief 😅. I then sent a few photos, of the key fob, to Angelique and just saying, “less than a minute, literally”. Again, less than a minute later, a very, very relieved Angelique called me and expressed her gratitude. She was just so happy, with this weight being lifted off her shoulders. Angelique knew the fob had to have been somewhere along the path or in the backyard. However, she was a little miffed that the metal detector she had rented, didn’t pick it up. I told her that if she doesn’t have any metal detecting experience and the metal detector isn’t properly set up, the odds were good that she wouldn’t find it. She had also been given an older metal detector that had none of the modern technology and it may have been going off, on everything, confusing her. As you know, I have had many, many clients, over the years either buy or rent a metal detector, to find their own lost item, only to call me later and help them out. Experience and equipment matter.
Angelique still wasn’t home, so she asked me to leave the key fob, between the doors, of the house. After taking a few selfies, of myself, with the key fob, I did just that. A few hours later, Angelique messaged me

“THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Just got them!!!!! I know!!! That was ruining my Christmas! Insane they don’t have a reasonable option for when they are lost and only have a single key. I will send you a pic of me with the keys soon, to use wherever! Use it everywhere! Would literally give you my kidney. Please put that in the story.”

WOW, Angelique is one happy woman and although I wasn’t able to meet her, I’m sure she is smiling. I know I am smiling. So thankfully, another key fob, back in the pocket and what could have been a very expensive car rental, has been resolved. I love helping others out, in their time of needs. Here is wishing Angelique a safe trip back home, to Visit Washington DC.. I truly have the best job in the world. 😀❤️🙏

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Three Property Pins, Markers, Lost In York, Maine, Found In The Snow, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
Contact:

I was contacted by Deanna, concerning finding some long lost property pins/markers, on her York, Maine property. Her neighbors had recently sold their home and Deanna would just like to find the pins, dividing the properties. Deanna has lived at her current home for 15 years and has the most recent survey prints, from just before she bought her home, 15 years earlier. Deanna told me that she herself had pulled one of the pins, out of the ground, because it was in the way of her mowing. She now regrets that decision. There are two pins, in particular, Deanna would like us to find. The first, must find pin, is along the road and approximately 380’, from a property pin, in the front of her house, next to a fence. Pin #1 isn’t vital to find, but would make this job much easier. The pin is no longer visible, so we will need to find this pin #1, in a very confined corner, then measure 380’, down the road and search for pin #2, that Deanna wants us to find. If and when we find Pin #2, we will need to measure approximately 102 feet, out into the field, and find the Pin #3, that needs to be found, for Deanna. Deanna would also like to find a 4th pin, but it wasn’t as important as pins #2 & 3. For a job this big, area wise and measurement wise, I called in Gary Hill, to assist. Gary was happy to go with me and I set a date and time with Deanna.

This morning, December 11th, 2025, Gary and I headed to York, Maine. We arrived at just before 8:00am and was promptly met by Deanna. She showed us the area and then had to head into work. Gary and I immediately got to work and went to find Pin #1, in the front of the house, along the fence. This pin was found within 1 minute and we now had a property pin, to measure from and down the road, 380’, to Property Pin #2. This is one of the must find pins, that Deanna wanted us to find. So, Gary and I retrieved the 300’ tape measure and looped it around Property Pin #1. I then walked it down the road 300’ and marked it, at that point. Gary brought the tape up to the 300’ mark and we measured out another 80’. We should now be able to locate Pin #2, in the vicinity. Using a tape measure isn’t as accurate as GPS, now used by surveyors but it will put us very close, to within a foot or so. Gary and I started searching and our first target looked promising. A definite piece of iron, ringing up in the ferrous range. As we dug it, it turned out to be a large spike, from a long, long time ago. As we continued the search, our second target was also a ferrous target and after digging it, we had found what we were looking for. Property pin #2, had been found. Deanna had given us some orange stakes, to place next to the property pins. This pin was a pipe, as was Pin #1 and we placed the orange stake, right into the pipe. This Pin #2 was within a foot of where the 380’ measurement came to. I love it when it works out like this. Now on to Property Pin #3. A must find, for Deanna. Gary and I then measured approximately 102’, into the field and Gary noticed an iron rebar rod, sticking out of the ground, at just about the area, we would be searching in. We dug around the rebar and saw that the rebar had actually been placed, inside a pipe, like the one we had just found, up near the road. This was to easy, so we searched the area, for anymore property pins, but found absolutely nothing. Fantastic!!! Property Pins #1,2 and 3 had been found. Now let’s see if Pin #4, is findable. Deanna had told me that she thought Pin #4 may be in amongst some trees. Only one way to find out, Gary and I measured the 85’ and because it is being measured, at an angle and not a straight line, from Pin #3, we had a slightly larger area, to search. Some of the area, as you got close to the trees, were difficult to search, because the hay was fairly tall and we couldn’t swing the metal detector, very well. This area also has what looks like some sort of small path, for farm equipment or ATV’s. The path area was frozen and difficult to dig. The area also was producing a lot and I mean, a lot of large ferrous targets. We were digging up large iron pieces of old farm equipment. Could these pieces of iron, be masking out, the much smaller iron Property Pin? We did find a large iron Pin but we are not sure if it is the Property Pin. It was found 4’, short of where it should have been found. Gary and I think it may have been part of a fence, at one time. We had been finding fence wire in the area, so kind of makes sense. We decided to call it a day, due to the difficult circumstances and return, in the spring, once the ground thaws, on the path and the hay will be flattened, from this winters snow. I am sure we will find Pin #4, in the spring. I sent Deanna a message about finding 3 of the four Property Pins and two of the pins, were the ones, she really wanted, to have us find. Gary and I were happy to have found the three and were really happy to be getting out of the brutal windy conditions. We now have something to look forward to, this sprig and Deanna is extremely happy to finally know where the Property Pins are.
As a side note, I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Deanna and all my clients that I may find their property pin but I cannot guarantee that the pin is in the correct location. I have no way of knowing if the pin has actually been moved, in the past, or not. Only a licensed surveyor can guarantee the pins are in the correct spot.
Another adventure with property pins and this was a first for Gary and I. We searched fo, the pins, in the snow. We had never done that before and we were actually surprised at how much fun it was. Ok, not that much fun! Thankfully, not all of the ground was frozen and the snow was only an inch or two deep. This up coming spring, Gary and I will head back to York and hopefully find Property Pin #4. Who doesn’t love helping others out. Gary and I are happy, Deanna is happy. A win, win for everyone and smiles all around. We have the best job in the world😀❤️🙏

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