Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders | Page 3 of 16

Large Gold Signet Ring, With Family Crest, Lost In The Gravel Of Greenwood, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I received a phone call from Joe. Joe explained that 4-5 days earlier, he and his wife, Andrea, had returned from a 10 day trip, to Scotland. Upon arriving at Logan Airport, in Boston, Joe and Andrea then drove to their home, in Saco, Maine. Once in Saco, they got in Joe’s truck and drove to Greenwood, Maine. Joe and Andrea own a camp, in Greenwood Maine and while they were in Scotland, their dogs were being watched at the camp. Once they arrived, at their camp, the dogs were extremely excited to see Joe and Andrea. The dogs were jumping up and down on them and running all around them, in the driveway area, of their camp. Once the dogs were in the truck, Joe and Andrea started the long drive back to Saco, Maine. As they were driving home, Joe noticed that his Gold Signet Ring, with the family crest on it, was missing. This wasn’t just any Signet ring, this was a 25th Anniversary Gift, to Joe, from Andrea. Joe and Andrea have now been married for 45 years and Joe has been wearing the ring, for the last 20 years. Joe immediately turned around and drove back to their Greenwood camp. The entire front of the camp, where Joe was greeted by the dogs and was playing with them was searched. The area consisted of a mixture of gravel driveway, some grass, pine needles, etc.. Joe and Andrea could not find the ring. Over the next few days, the search continued but the ring still wasn’t found, in the vehicles, luggage, house, etc.. Joe was 90% sure he had it on, when he arrived at the Greenwood Camp, but not 100%. He contacted Delta Air Lines to report it lost and to see if anyone had turned it in. Delta had not found the ring either. At this point, Andrea suggested to Joe, that he should call TRFOM. Joe had never heard of us and told Andrea the he was doubtful that we would be able to find the ring. Then someone else recommended us told Joe and told Joe to just call us. This is when Joe reached out to me, as a last resort. Joe and I planned to meet Sunday morning, August 24th, at 8:00am, to search his camp property, with our metal detectors. Since I really didn’t have any idea, of how large an area would need to be searched, I asked Gary Hill to accompany me, if available. Gary agreed to ride up to Greenwood, with me and search, for Joe’s extremely sentimental ring.

Gary and I arrived approximately 15 minutes early and Joe and Andrea, a few moments later. As we were making small talk, Andrea asked if I had graduated from Thornton Academy, in 1974. Why yes I did! Andrea then told me she graduated, from Thornton Academy, in 1976, the same year as my sister. Well, what a small world.
Joe showed us the area that he had been in, a week ago now, when he thinks he lost the ring. It was basically the entire front of the property and as I looked it over, I thought Gary and I could cover the entire area,in approximately an hour. Gary would start grid searching the right side of the property, as you faced the building and I would start on the left side, working our way, towards each other. Joe was walking the area, with his eyes peeled, to the ground. I could see, on Joe’s face, just how badly, he wanted his Family Crest Signet Ring back. My first grid pass, from the road area, to the corner of the house, resulted in just a few pieces of trash. Gary was finding a few pieces of trash also. As I turned around and started searching, back up to the road, I realized I had forgotten my pinpointer, in the car. When I reached the end of my grid line and went up to my car, to get my pinpointer. As I was at the car, I hear Gary say, “Dennis, I got it. I found it”. I looked over and Gary was bent over, look at something. Joe was in the house, at this point but Angela immediately let him know and when Joe came out of the camp, he was stunned but was smiling like he just won Powerball. As I made my way to Gary, Gary was still looking at the ring and when I arrived, I could see just a small area of the ring. Gary told all of us that he heard the detector go off and when he looked down, he could see just a small piece of the band. Joe arrived and he couldn’t believe that much of the ring was buried, in the hard gravel driveway. Gary and I believe that the ring most likely was knocked off, by the dogs, after jumping, on Joe. The dogs, or Joe then moved some of the loose gravel, up and over the ring, partially obscuring it, just enough so that no one could see it. For the last week, the ring just sat there, blending in with the gravel, sand and dirt. Joe was just overjoyed to get his very sentimental ring back, a ring that his wife Andrea had custom made for him, 25 years ago. After a round of handshakes, hugs, fist pumping and of course, smiles, Gary and I congratulated Joe and Andrea one last time. As we drove off I tooted the horn and we could see Joe looking at his ring, back on his finger, just smiling ear to ear. It’s such a great feeling to be able to help others, when they need our services and I don’t think we will ever get old of that feeling. We love our jobs😃❤️🙏

White Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings, With Diamonds, Lost In The Sand, On Hermit’s Island, Phippsburg, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday, August 22nd, I received a phone call, from Nico., at approximately 11:40am. Nico conveyed to me that there is a large and extended group of family and friends, camping at Hermit’s Island Campground, in Phippsburg, Maine. Just minutes earlier a member of the group had just lost her soldered together White Gold Engagement and Wedding Rings. Jacquie, Jax for short,, had taken her rings off to apply lotion to her young children, while enjoying the day, at Sand Dollar Beach, on Hermit’s island U.S.A . Not wanting to get lotion all over her rings, Jax took the rings off and placed them on the beach blanket. It was then, right around high tide, at 11:18am, that a very large wave rushed up the beach, reaching the area of the beach blankets. Jax grabbed the blanket, so it wouldn’t get all wet but had forgotten her rings, were on the blanket. Jax immediately realized what had just happened and that was Hurricane Erin’s very rough surf and waves had just claimed Jax’s two rings, burying the rings, in the sand. The entire group of family and friends immediately started searching, for the rings, without success. It was then that Nico called me. By now it was close to noon time and I told Nico that I would get there, as soon as I could. Phippsburg, Maine is an hour and a half drive for me, if everything goes smoothly. Being a Friday, in the summer, I could certainly get stuck in traffic, on my way, to Phippsburg, ME. I also needed to finish something up, that I was right in the middle of. I told Nico that I could be there by 3:00pm, at the latest.

I was able to get on the road just before 1:00pm and I arrived, at the Hermit Island Campground, at 2:30pm. The check in booth for the Campground was expecting me and gave me a map of the island, to help me get to Sand Dollar Beach, at the northern end of the island. It took me another 10 minutes to find the very secluded beach. Once I got out of the vehicle , Nico was right there, waiting for me. Nico took me right to where Jax and her family were. Everyone there knew the rings were in an approximately 20’ X 20’ area of the sand. Everyone was very supportive and were willing to do whatever it took, to make this a successful recovery. I told everyone that I would grid search the area, starting near the high tide line and go back and forth, towards the sand dunes. On my first grid pass , just a small piece of aluminum. I turned around and headed back, in the other direction and nothing was found. Turned again started my grid pass and almost immediately received a nice low tone, reading 19-20, on my VDI Screen. Could I have just found Jax’s rings? I removed my pinpointer and located the target. After a few scoops of sand, taken out by hand, I felt something heavy in my hand and it fell out of my hand and back into the sand, but not before we all saw that it was Jax’s rings. I heard others yell out that they saw the ring. I then retrieved the ring, held it up to a now cheering and very happy group of people. Jax was so excited and thanked me over and over, for driving up there and finding her rings. The entire mood of everyone, in the group had just changed. Where there was once nervousness and uncertainty there was now laughter and smiles. We all talked for a while and I even found an avid metal detectorist in the group. Unfortunately,he didn’t bring his metal detector with him, but he will now bring it everywhere he goes. Jax, her husband, Nate and the entire group could now relax and get back to the vacation, without the weight of such a terrible loss, hanging over their heads.
One I had returned home, I received the following text message, from Jax

“Thank you so much there are no words on How thankful I am for you !!”

I love my job😀❤️🙏

Sentimental Gold Ring Lost At Range Pond State Park, Poland, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

At approximately 9:00am, Thursday morning, August 21st, I received the following message, from Renata

“Hello, last week a friend of mine and I went to Range Pond, in Poland, Maine and she lost her very sentimental gold ring. We have tried searching for it, someone came along with a metal detector and also searched but no luck!
I was wondering if this is anything that you could possibly help with?”

My reply
“Hi Renata, So sorry to hear this. I may be able to help. Does she know the location where the ring was lost, and the depth? “

Renata replied
“She does know the about location. I can’t imagine it would be very far down in the sand. She said it was lost while on the beach itself. When you are at range pond it would be all the way to the left side of the area where boats can come in and out. The exact location is about in the middle of that and the edge of the beach.
This is the ring.”

Renata then sent me some photos, of the area and of the ring
I replied
“ok, So it’s not in the water. If up on the beach, I would be concerned someone has found it already or even another Metal Detectorist. Let me look at an aerial view of the area and see if I can figure out the location. I will get back to you in a few minutes.”

I then sent Renata a photo and asked her if she could tell me if the ring would be in one of the 4 sections, that I had marked up and she then circled the area, of where she thinks the ring was lost. I then replied to Renata and reiterated my concern that they had already had another metal detectorist search that area, and hadn’t found it. I also told her that I could go and search the area once again. I really didn’t know if the other metal detectorist has any experience or what kind of detector they were using. After all, it was just someone that they saw and asked for help. I Also asked Renata if her friend, Hope, saw or felt the ring come coming off and if the ring could have been lost somewhere else.
Renata replied
She said that it was in the pocket of her bag and then was not when she was home. I suppose it’s obviously possible someone snatched it.”
I replied
“Yeah, It just seems strange the other detectorist didn’t find it. Since it was in a bag, could it have fallen out, in her vehicle, parking area, as she walked out of the park, etc? If she hasn’t, she should report it lost to the State Park. If you would like me to search, I could go up today, around 4:pm, when people are leaving.”
Renata told me that Hope had reported the ring lost, to the Park Ranger, at Range Pond State Park. I then told her that I would definitely go later, in the day, as people left the park and the beach would not be crowded. When a beach is crowded, you just can’t perform a proper grid search, with everyone on the beach. Renata told me she would not be able to meet me there because they were on Peaks Island. That was ok, because I had a very detailed area, to search.

Cheryl and I arrived at Range Pond State Park, at just prior to 4:00pm and found the Park Ranger to tell him I was there to search for Hope’s lost ring. The Park Ranger, Walter, then told me someone else had searched for the ring last night. Walter also told us the guy “looked like a professional” metal detectorist WOW! A second metal detectorist has now searched for the lost gold ring. Walter was told that the ring was not found. Now I’m doubting if the ring is actually there. Has it been found, lost somewhere else. It happens all the time. Walter also told me that he wasn’t very pleased the “professional” metal detectorist, from the night before . That metal detectorist has dug holes, in the beach and didn’t fill them in, but just leaving the holes, for anyone to step in. Definitely not good. Once Cheryl and I got on the beach, there were a few groups of people in the center of the beach, where the ring was thought to have been lost. So, I decided to start on the far left side of the beach, as you face the pond. I would grid search the area, from the water, up to the trees and back to the waters edge, working my way towards the middle of the beach. As I was grid searching, I was finding many small fishing sinkers and a few coins. I thought to myself that with two different metal detectorists searching the area, in the past four days, those should have been found. More importantly, more people had left the beach and now there were only a few people, on the beach. I was now approaching the center of the beach, after approximately 45 minutes of searching and I started to see the many dug holes, left by the ‘professional’ metal detectorist. To me this wasn’t a good feeling, concerning the lost ring. I decided to continue, until the entire beach had been searched. About 15 minutes later and just a few feet from some of the dug holes, I received a nice low tone, reading 27-28 on my VDI screen. I didn’t get too excited because that is also the exact VDI reading, of a nickel. The target was reading 0 (Surface) to 2 inches down, in the sand. I took my hand and started wiping the sand away. All of a sudden, there it was, a gold ring with some stones. I was stunned!!! Dug holes less than 10 feet away, two metal detectorists searched this exact area and yet, it was still here. Amazing. I looked at Cheryl , up under the trees, in the shade (yes, she’s the brains, of the family and I’m the sweaty brawn) and yells “I FOUND IT” as I gave her a thumbs up. Cheryl came right over and she couldn’t believe it either. Four days on a public beach and two other metal detectorists searched for the ring, in this exact area. Crazy.

I then took a photo and sent it to Renata, saying, “Does this look familiar?”
Renata’s reply was,

“Stop!!!! We both just screamed!!!
Literal tears of joy!!
How can we pick it up from you??”

We then made plans for Hope to meet me in Windham, as that is where she lives and it is on our way home.
Approximately 45 minutes later, Hope arrived and you could see just how much this ring meant to her. She was just so excited and happy, to see her ring again, after thinking it was gone forever. Hope was smiling ear to ear as she told us that the ring was actually a gift that she had fought for herself, after giving birth to her son, a few years earlier. She called it her “Birthing Gift, to myself, after her son was born. To Hope, this ring represented the birth of the most important person, in her life, her son. Thankfully the ring has had a rebirth and is now back on Hope’s finger, where it belongs. I am just so happy to have a small part in the rebirth. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

Gold Engagement Ring Lost In The Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach, Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

I received a call, just after 10:00am, on Thursday August 21st. The caller was frantic sounding and she identified herself as Aryane. Aryane told me that she had lost her Engagement Ring, the previous evening, in Ocean Park, Maine. She and her fiancée had searched last night in the dark but unfortunately, they could not find the engagement ring. Aryane had returned to the beach this morning to resume the search. As she was searching, two lifeguards arrived, for duty and also help search, by combing the sand. Another beach goer saw what was going on and told Aryane to contact me. The woman told Aryane that she follows me, on Facebook, and I should be able to help her. This is when Aryane called me. I told Aryane that I could be there and help her, in approximately 20 minutes, as I live close by, in Saco, Maine. Aryane told me she was on the beach, at the end of Reggio Avenue.

Once I arrived I walked onto the beach and Aryane walked right over to me and introduced herself. I asked what had happened, the previous evening and did she see or feel the ring come off. Aryane told me that her boyfriend, Benjamin, had proposed to her, Tuesday evening and last night, Wednesday evening was their last night in Ocean Park, Maine. Aryane and Benjamin decided on their last night that they would go to the beach and do some star gazing. As they were star gazing and talking Aryane felt her brand new Engagement Ring slip off, as she was gesturing with her hands. Aryane told me the ring was a little loose and that she intended to get it resized, once her and Benjamin returned to their home, in New York. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to get it resized and was now worried she would never see her Engagement Ring of 1 day again. As I looked over the area, I told her she was lucky because I did not see any signs of the beach cleaning machine, having gone through the area. A big plus and I saw a slight smile on her face, when I told her that.
There were a few areas that I could see where people had been searching, as the sand was all disturbed. Aryane told me she remembered standing next to the burnt wood, of a bonfire, the night before. She and Benjamin were then just 10 feet or so, to the north west of the burnt wood and it was this area, that most of the searching by Aryane, Benjamin, the lifeguards and my follower had been taking place. I told Aryane that I would start my grid search, next to the burnt wood and work my way north, to where the lifeguards had the chairs, just 15’ or so away. I would grid search, towards the beach access path, covering the area, where they had been searching. With Aryane, the lifeguards and my follower watching me, I started my first grid pass. Within 30 seconds, I received a very nice sounding low tone, registering a 27, on my VDI screen. Definitely in the gold range but I tempered my excitement became nickels ring up as a 27 and are also a low tone target. I retrieved my pinpointer and located the target. I started running my fingers, down into the sand and felt the target and it had a hole in it. It had to be the ring and was very heavy, for its size. As I pulled the target out of the sand, I could see the brand new shiny gold just shimmering, in the morning sun. I had just found Aryane’s Engagement Ring, of one day and I then heard the shriek of excitement, clapping and hollering, from the people watching me. The lifeguards were just amazed that I had found it so fast and I told them that it’s better to be lucky, than good. As I passed the ring back to an extremely happy and excited Aryane, she immediately put it back on her finger and gave me a hug. All the nervousness had left Aryane’s body and she now had a happy bounce as she walked and it was a great feeling to see her smiling. I would like to thank my follower for the referral and for her concern for Aryane. It was a genuine concern and she helped Aryane with support, while they searched. I would also like to thank the lifeguards who helped look for the ring and also gave Aryane support.
Aryane told me that she is from Brazil and Benjamin from New York, where they now live and are planning their lives together. I wasn’t able to meet Benjamin, as he was packing up their belongings and had to be out of their rental. As Aryane left to meet up with Benjamin, she was all smiles and just overwhelmed and overjoyed. It’s such a great feeling to turn a potential gut wrenching nightmare into a happiness that resonates to everyone involved. I love my job 😀❤️🙏

Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Saturday August 16, I was headed to Boston, when I received 2 different phone calls, concerning lost rings, both located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Since I wasn’t available, I called Gary Hill, to help out. Gary searched the first location and found all three lost rings, that you have already read about. While Gary was searching, down in front of  The Brunswick, I called him with another lost ring, just south of the Waves Oceanfront Resort. Once Gary finished up at The Brunswick, he walked down to the next location and met with Jim and Sarah. While tossing the football around, with his son, Noah, Jim’s wedding ring came off and landed in the surf. Being in the water, while throwing the football around, Jim’s finger became wet and the cold water most like shrunk his finger a little, resulting in a lost ring. Once Gary arrived, Jim told showed him the area where the ring was but unfortunately, the tide was coming in and the waves were too large, to enter the water, for a metal detecting search. Gary told Jim and Sarah that he would return the next day, as the tide was receding and grid search the area.

Since Jim and Sarah were only down for the day, from Woodstock, New Hampshire, they gave Gary excellent coordinates. The ring was at the Bay Street access path and directly in front of the house, with the red roof. The ring was lost at approximately 2:00pm, halfway between high and low tide. Gary told them he would arrive at 8:30am, for an 11:54am low tide. Gary would have approximately 3 1/2 hours, to follow the tide out and locate the ring. Jim and Sarah. Gary started between the house with the red roof and grid searched back and forth, to the lifeguard station. Gary then split the distance in half, as he was approaching the low tide area. Gary received a nice loud low tone, reading 23 on his VDI screen. After almost 3 hours, Gary was sure this was the ring. He took a big scoop of sand and dumped it onto the hard wet sand. He removed his pinpointer, located the target and saw a White Gold Wedding Ring. He has found Jim’s ring. Gary call Jim, at his home in New Hampshire and they made plans to meet up today, Saturday August 23rd, for Jim to receive his very sentimental wedding ring back. Once Gary returned Jim’s ring, Jim couldn’t thank Gary enough and Gary couldn’t be happier for helping Jim out in his time of need. Thank you Gary, another outstanding recovery and 4 rings, in two days. Smiles all the way around. 😃❤️🙏

Veteran Loses Sterling Silver Cross In The Old Orchard Beach Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

Brennan posted the following on the “Old Orchard Beach Lost and Found” Facebook Page , on August 18th

“I believe i lost a necklace at the beach yesterday, it was a cross necklace if anyone finds it it would be greatly appreciated.”
Once this was posted, Brennan received a comment, on his post,

“Call The Ringfinders of The Ring Finders of Maine!!! Amazing man!!!”

Brennan heeded the posters advice and called me. Brennan told me that the Sterling Silver Necklace and Cross, containing the Lord’s Prayer , was a gift from his fiancé. She gave him this necklace just before his first overseas deployment, while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps . Brennan told me this necklace had been with him all over thee world and couldn’t believe he comes home to Maine and loses it in Old Orchard Beach. Brennan then told me that they had entered the beach, at the Waves Oceanfront Resort and had taken an immediate right, next to the benches and walked down to the next bench. I told Brennan that I would mark up an aerial view of the area and see if we could pinpoint the exact area, to search. I can’t tell you how many times I have searched an area, by verbal description only and end up in the wrong location. It is imperative that I get the best possible directions, to search. Once I sent the photo to Brennan and asked if I had the correct location, he replied

I believe it would be the next set of benches farther down towards the bottom of that picture, it was one lone bench.
The necklace was sterling silver with the lords prayer engraved on it. I believe it’s this one right here
Where I circled in yellow. Yes sir I believe that’s exactly the spot 😂 Thank you so much, you are extremely appreciated! ”

Perfect, Brennan had circled the exact location., just as I had resent the photo, marking the exact spot as Brennan had.and I told Brennan I would get there as soon as I could, once my appointment with the pellet stove technician was completed, at 4:00pm. It was now 2:21pm and Cheryl could see me getting itchy, to get down there. Cheryl said to me “just go find” it and I’ll wait for the pellet stove guy. That was all I needed to hear and I was out the door.

I called Brennan on the way to Old Orchard Beach, Maine and told him I would send photos of the area, once I arrived and if he could verify I was in the correct spot. Absolutely was his reply. Once I arrived, the parking situation was not being kind to me. I ended up parking approximately a quarter mile away, closer to Ocean Park, Maine and walk up to the beach, near the Waves Resort. I then made my way to the bench and as I was walking on the beach, I noticed the beach cleaning machine HAD NOT been through the area. That was a big positive, I then took some photos and sent them to Brennan, asking if this was in fact the bench and area, he had been in. His reply

“I believe that’s the correct one. It should be less than a few feet from the bench on its right side. It fell off, right side facing the bench.”

I then walked over to the bench and and searched in front of the bench, as I was getting to the right side, where the necklace had possibly fallen, into the sand. I found nothing in the front of the bench. I then swung my coil on the right side of the bench and received a very loud high tone and my VDI Screen was showing 91. A very high conductive metal, just like silver. I removed my coil from the area, of the target and when I looked down, I could barely see part of a chain or necklace. Not much was showing but I could see it. I picked up the necklace and a Sterling Silver Cross, with The Lords Prayer emerged from the sand. WOW!!!! I was now holding Brennan’s Necklace and Cross. I took some photos and sent them to Brennan

“I think I can see it. Congratulations. I could actually still see part of the chain. I will contact you when I get home. 🙏🙏🙏”

Brennan replied
“You are a lifesaver. Thank you so much sir. 🙏❤️💪😎”

Once home I told Brennan that I would send his necklace and cross, via the USPS Certified Mail and he shod receive it in a few days. I then asked him if he would’t mind having a photo taken, with the necklace, once he received it and forward it to me, so I could use it in my story. Brennan happily agreed a last night Brennan did in fact send me the photo. Felt so great to help Brennan and I thanked him, for his service, to our country. No better feeling than to help people and when the person is a veteran who has been put in harms way, serving our country, it’s even better. A very special gift, from a fiancé is now back around the neck of Brennan. A gift that helped protect him, around the world, while serving his country. I was just so proud to have helped him get this back. I have the best job, in the world.
Brennan, Thank you for your service, to our country. Semper Fi 🇺🇸❤️🙏

Sentimental Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Grass, In Buxton, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”

We’ve all heard this saying about what a bride should wear, in her wedding day. The following, is from Readers Digest

People believed the items would bring good and happy marriages. According to Reader’s Digest, the rhyme came about in the Victorian era from Lancashire, a county in England. Most of the ingredients in the rhyme are meant to ward off the evil eye, which, according to Reader’s Digest, was “a curse passed through a malicious glare that could make a bride infertile.”
So, on Saturday August 16th Emma and Timothy, were married, at Arabella Estate, in Buxton, Maine. It was an absolutely beautiful day, at a beautiful wedding venue. For her “something old”, Emma decided to have her late grandfather’s wedding ring, tied to her bouquet. A very loving and touching tribute to her grandfather. After the wedding ceremony was over, the bride and groom had photographs taken, of their special day. There were areas, around the estate that the bride, groom, wedding party and family, had pictures taken at. Towards the end of the photo session, Emma noticed her grandfather’s wedding ring was no longer tied to the bouquet. Emma was crushed and everyone started searching, for the missing ring. Some people were even on their hands and knees, looking for the ring. The ring was never found.
Later that evening, I received a call from the groom, explaining to me, what had happened. I explained that I was in Boston and was booked, in Auburn, Maine, Sunday morning. Emma and Timothy couldn’t make it on Sunday, so we agreed to meet first thing Monday morning. Timothy later texted me and told me that, “my wife is absolutely distraught and just you agreeing to come out has taken a huge weight off her shoulders. We will be there with you as long as you need to assist in any way and answer any questions.”
I arrived at Arabella Estates and admired the entire venue, as I was waiting for Emma and Timothy. After arriving, along with Emma’s mother, I was shown the most likely areas that the ring would be in. Timothy and Emma had narrowed the areas down, by going through the photos, taking by the wedding photographer. A very smart move and it definitely helps, in pinpointing a location. I had brought an extra Metal Detector to use and Timothy enthusiastically agreed to search also. After a quick tutorial, Timothy told me that he would like me to search the area, they really thought the ring would be in. This was because of my experience and Timothy would search the second most likely area. If I was unable to locate the ring, in my area, I could always search the area that Timothy was searching. I fired up my Minelab Manticore, as Timothy, Emma and her mother, went around to the other side of the venue, to search. I decided I would start at the stairs and grid search, across the lawn, to the edge of the woods and plants. I hadn’t gone more than five steps, when my phone rang. The call was about another lost ring. Once the call ended, I started searching again and another five steps later, my metal detector went off, loud and clear. A nice low tone and registering a 38 on my VDI screen. My depth gauge was showing the target was zero to two inches, below the ground. I then looked down, into the grass and I couldn’t see the target. I then removed my pinpointer and ran it through the grass, until I located the target. I then moved a few blades of grass and I saw a Gold Ring. Unbelievable!!! No more than 10 steps, into the search and Emma’s “something old” has been found. I walked over to the other side of the venue and told Timothy, Emma and her mother that they could stop searching because I had found the wedding ring. I then saw the smiles break out, along with a huge sigh of relief, from everyone. Once at the area the ring was in, I asked if any of them could see the ring. They couldn’t see the ring and I then pointed it out, camouflage perfectly, in the grass. They all remarked how the area had been visually searched and some people were searching on their hands and knees. After all these years of metal detecting it still amazes me that rings just disappear and blend into the grass.
So now Emma’s “something old” is back with her mother, who had let Emma borrow the wedding ring, for her nuptials. Emma is no longer distraught and a burden has been lifted, from her shoulders. As Emma and Timothy start their new life together, they will look back at this and laugh. Emma now has a story to add, to not only her wedding ring, but her grandfather’s also. It certainly was a special moment when I could just see and sense the mood change, in Emma. Another smile for the “Book of Smiles” and I absolutely love being able to do this, for others.
Congratulations Emma & Timothy and wishing you nothing but love and happiness in your life together ❤️🙏

 

Platinum Wedding Ring Lost In Auburn, Maine Backyard, Found With Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday afternoon, August 15th, I received a call from Scott. He had lost his Platinum Wedding Ring, the previous Saturday, in his backyard, in Auburn, Maine. His six year old son wanted to go camping, so Scott set up a tent, in the backyard. The next morning Scott noticed he no longer had his Wedding Ring on, it was gone. Scott and his wife checked out some photos, taken the previous evening. Sure enough, there is a photo of Scott, his six year old son and his 3 year old daughter, showing he was still had his Wedding Ring on, at 8:00pm. The backyard was throughly searched by Scott and his wife, but to no avail. Scott and his young son also had walked up the street, just a little bit and also about 50 feet, into the woods behind his house. These areas were also checked, over and over again, for the past 6 days. No ring found. Scott asked if I could help search for the ring, with my metal detector. As this was Friday afternoon, I told Scott that I was already booked this afternoon, in Moody Beach and that I was going to Boston, tomorrow morning. Where the ring was lost on his property, there was no worries about someone finding it, in his backyard. Scott and I agreed to meeting, on Sunday morning, to search for his wedding ring.

I arrived promptly at Scott’s house, at 8:00am and Scott came right out, to meet me. Scott walked me around the property, showing me everywhere he had been, after 8:00pm, when the photo was taken, showing he still had his ring on. I then started searching the backyard, where they had been camping. The entire backyard should only take me an hour to an hour and a half. If I didn’t find the ring in the backyard, I would then search the small area of the woods they had been in. If not in the woods, then along the street, up to the next house. As I was searching the backyard, I was getting lots of targets but they were showing to be 4-8 inches, in the ground and they definitely weren’t in the low conductor platinum range that I was looking for. Anything even close, I would check the target with my pinpointer and all the targets were indeed, in the ground, except a penny and a quarter, which I found, up along the rock wall and they were, on top of the ground. After an hour and a half, I completed the entire backyard area and no wedding ring. I then went into the woods and found the usual trash targets and a nickel, but no ring. I then went to the front of the house and searched along the street, up to the next driveway and again, no wedding ring. where could the ring be. There is a photo showing him with it on at 8:00pm and the next day, it’s not on his finger. I met up with Scott and told him that the ring is definitely not in the areas searched. I asked him if he had checked the tent, sleeping bags, clothing, etc.. Scott said he and his wife had searched those items multiple times. Scott said he was sure I would find it, in the backyard and said “I’m at a loss” and that they would recheck everything again. I then told Scott that I have had clients contact me days, weeks and in one instance, years after losing a ring, telling me they have found the ring, in a totally different place, than where they thought it would be. I mentioned a client had once found his wife’s missing Engagement Ring after 3 months, in the wiper cowel, of her vehicle. Crazy but true. As I was talking to Scott, I had him go over the events of 8 days ago, one more time. He gave the same story of the next morning, the ring was missing. I then asked him if he noticed the ring missing, as soon as he got up. He said no, that he noticed it missing when he was swatting hornets away, after the attacked him, between the pool and the house. WAIT, WHAT? HORNETS AGAIN? I then told Scott that approximately 3 weeks earlier, a client in Windham, Maine was attacked by hornets and his wedding ring flew off, into the woods. I ended up finding the wedding ring, in the thick overgrown brush, in the woods. Scott then says, “My hands were wet when they attacked”. I asked Scott to show me where this had happened. He took me inside the fenced in pool and to the area against the house, where the hornets attacked him. I turned my metal detector on and checked the plant that was being watered and pruned, when the hornets attacked. The wedding ring wasn’t in the plant. I then searched the rock landscape, along the house and plant. No ring, in the rocks, along the walkway and plant. I then walked behind the plant, searching the rocks, between the plant and house. All of a sudden, I received a very loud low tone, looked down, into the rock landscape and what did I see? It was a Platinum Wedding Ring, belonging to Scott. I looked over at Scott and said, “Scott, I found your ring.” Scott yelled out in delight and ran right over. He told me he couldn’t believe it. He was literally just there pruning the plant again and didn’t see it. Scott’s wife was also over joyed and everyone was smiling and just so surprised the ring had just been sitting there for the last eight days. As I told them, the wedding ring was “Hiding in plain sight”. As I tell my clients, Gary Hill and I ask lots of questions, for reasons like this. The questions may sound repetitive but the questions may just jog your memory and result in a ring being found.
As I left, Scott and his wife were still beaming with smiles, ear to ear and thanked me again. I could see the anguish in Scott’s face the entire morning and now the entire morning has turned bright and sunny. I am so happy he has his ring back and I’m sure he will be sleeping well tonight and with a smile 😃 ❤️🙏

Three Gold Wedding and Engagement Rings Lost In The Old Orchard Beach,Maine Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

After a late night recovery, at Longsands Beach, York, Maine, in York Beach Maine, I had to go to Boston, the next morning. As I was driving to Boston, Massachusetts, I received a phone call, from Lindsey. Lindsey’s sister, Paulette, had just lost 3 rings, in the dry sand, in front of The Brunswick, in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. They were a Wedding Ring, Engagement Ring and one other sentimental ring. The rings were White Gold and one of them had diamonds around it. After losing the rings, in the sand, the group searched but could not find the rings. They reported the missing rings, to the lifeguards and the lifeguards recommended calling The Ring Finders of Maine. That is when Lindsey, called me. I told Lindsey that I was on my way to Boston, Massachusetts, but I could get someone there and quickly.
Now, I had arranged, with Gary Hill the previous week to be ready for some call outs, as I wasn’t going to be available. As always, Gary stepped up and said he would be ready, if I called. As soon as I hung up with Lindsey, I called Gary and gave him the contact information, for Lindsey. Gary called me back a few minutes later and said he was meeting the clients, at the Brunswick, as soon as he could get there and he was leaving immediately. Once Gary arrived he was met by Lindsey and Paulette. Since they had left the area they were in, there was a question,bat to where they had actually been sitting. Each woman thought they were in a slightly different area, than the other one thought and another person, in the group, thought they were sitting somewhere else. Since the three area were all close together, Gary told them that he could search all three areas. Gary immediately grid searched the first area and only found the usual beach trash and a few coins. He then walked to the next location and searched that area, as well. Still none of the three rings had been found and there was just one area left to search. Gary then went to the third area and almost immediately received a nice low tone. Using his pinpointer, Gary located the first target, put his fingers, into the sand, felt a ring and pulled out the first missing ring. Gary ran the coil, in the area of where he found the first ring and he received a “funky sound”. He then pinpointed the area, put his hand, into the sand and was able to pull out the other two rings. That’s right, the other two missing rings were just pulled from the sand. Lindsey and Paulette were ecstatic and were so happy to get the rings back. Gary was also smiling ear to ear and was just happy to have been able to help these women out, with his Metal Detecting skills. As Gary always says, “I’m in it for the smiles” and he certainly saw some smiles today. There is no better feeling than to see the faces of our clients, when they see their lost jewelry, for the first time. What started out as a stomach turning disaster, turned into smiles and hugs. Thank you Gary, for all you do.❤️🙏

Newlywed Loses Gold Wedding Ring In The York Beach, Maine Surf, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)

On Friday evening, Cheryl and I were driving to Moody Beach, in Wells, Maine. We were going there to find a Wedding and “Engagement “ ring, that had been soldered together (please see previous successful recovery story). As we were in Wells, Maine, the phone rang. The caller identified himself as Greg and Greg had lost his Rose Gold Wedding Ring, earlier in the day, at York Beach Maine, also known as Longsands Beach, York, Maine in York, Maine. Greg told me that he lost his ring while out in the water, at approximately mid tide, but he was way out there, when it was lost. I told him that I was already booked this evening and almost to my search area. It was now 6:00pm and low tide was at 10:57pm. I told Greg that, depending on how long it took me to find the rings, at Moody Beach, I would go to York Longsands Beach tonight, if I thought I had enough daylight left to search, effectively. I had not brought my Headlamp because, I wasn’t expecting to search, in the dark.

I was successful, at Moody Beach, finding the two rings, soldered together, in approximately a half hour. If I drove straight to Long Sands Beach tonight, I could get there by 7:30pm and have approximately 45 minutes of sunlight, to search. I called Greg and he agreed to meet me at the beach and show me the area, his wedding ring came off. Greg said he had dove into the water and his had hit the bottom and he felt his wedding ring come off. He was waist to chest high when this happened and he was unable to find the ring.
Once Cheryl and I arrived, we met up with Greg and his wife, Amanda. Greg was very sure the ring would be straight out from 71 Long Beach Ave. He and his wife had set up for the day, on the beach, in front of this house. Perfect identification of the area. I was just hoping the ring wasn’t so far out there, I wouldn’t be able to cover the area, before the tide started coming back in and before I could no longer see, in the dark. It was all dependent on just how far out, in the water he was, when the ring came off.
I started my north/south grid search at approximately mid beach, at 7:33pm. Sunset was in 9 minutes, at 7:42pm but there should be enough ambient light until approximately 8:15pm. Could I find the wedding ring, in 45 minutes? As I grid searched the area, I was not finding any non ferrous items, other than a single costume earring. I continued on searching my way towards the water and it was getting darker. Greg and Amanda had to leave and get back to their rental and with their family. They told Cheryl if I found it to just give him a call. Greg also thought I would stop searching once it got dark but Cheryl told him I wouldn’t stop, until I caught the low tide water, as it was receding. It was now about 8:30 and it was really dark. I could no longer see my grid lines, made by my scoop, just a few feet away. I didn’t want to stop, since I was already here and I was just hoping I wasn’t missing any areas, since I couldn’t see where I was going. I still wasn’t getting many targets and was almost to the water. I figured I had just two or three more grid line and I would be at the water’s edge. I do go in the water, but I no longer go in at night, when no one is with me. I Just don’t feel safe, if I get knocked over by a wave and become entangled, with all my equipment. It was now 9:00pm and I was getting ready to leave when, BANG, a beautiful sounding low tone, registering a solid, repeatable 38, on my VDI screen. This was the best target of the last 1 1/2 hours, by far. I lined up my scoop, dug into the sand and dumped the contents, onto the hard wet sand. I ran my coil, over the contents and the target was out of the hole and in the pile of sand. I searched the pile, with my pinpointer and found the target. I put my hand, into the sand and felt a round ring. This had to be Greg’s ring. I washed the ring off and placed it on top of my scoops handle. I used the flashlight, on my phone, to look at the ring and sure enough, a Rose Gold Wedding Ring. I have found Greg’s ring and I couldn’t wait to tell him. I then called Cheryl and told her I found it and to come on down, from the vehicle, where she was staying warm. I then took some photos of the ring and sent one of them, to Greg, in a text, saying, “Congratulations. I got it”. Greg saw the text and called me in less than a minute later. He was so excited and was in disbelief. “Just amazing” he told me and thanked me many times over. I asked Greg if could come on down, while I washed the sand, off my equipment. Greg said he would be there in 5 minutes. When Greg arrived, his whole demeanor had changed since I last saw him a few hours earlier. He was just so excited, happy, smiling and he told Cheryl and I that when he told Amanda,she started crying, happy tears. As I always mention to you, these very sentimental rings cannot be replaced. The memories they hold are just to sentimental. It’s not just buying a new ring, it’s the ring Greg was married with and he wanted it back, so badly. I was happy to have been able to help Greg and Amanda and put the smiles, back on their faces. A little later that evening, Greg sent me the following text
“What an adventure. The story is worth all of it. Thank you for making the weekend for my wife and me and her whole family. Everyone is all smiles. You have our referral for life! 😁”
Thank you Greg and Amanda, Cheryl and I were happy to help and just feel grateful for all your support and kind words. ❤️🙏