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Metal Detecting Lost Engagement Ring in Kensington, Maryland…Found!

  • from Washington (District of Columbia, United States)

Christy’s Elegant London Blue Sapphire Diamond Engagement Ring Recovered and Returned by Brian Rudolph!

Happy Smiles Return to the Faces of Christy and Miles after the Beautiful Engagement Ring was Found Hidden in Their Backyard!

BRIAN RUDOLPH, LOST ITEM RECOVERY SPECIALIST (LAND, WATER, SAND, SNOW, LEAVES, HOUSES & VEHICLES) WILL FIND YOUR LOST KEEPSAKE! CALL ASAP (301) 466-8644!

Christy’s platinum diamond London blue sapphire engagement ring had been missing for 4 days when I got the call from her husband Miles asking for help. I wasn’t too far away from the couple’s Kensington, Maryland home as I had just wrapped up another search nearby in Chevy Chase.

When I arrived at the property, the three of us quickly jumped into the story of what led up to the disappearance of Christy’s very special ring. I was so happy that the couple found me on the amazing international metal detectorist directory called THE RING FINDERS!

The couple was pretty certain that the keepsake was lost somewhere in the backyard. Christy and Miles were doing yard work in the rear of their house the day that the precious gem disappeared. Christy was about to use a watering can but she didn’t want to bend the ring while holding the sprinkling pot’s handle. So, she gave her engagement band to her husband by putting it on his pinky finger while she did her planned tasks.

Christy said that she would be done in approximately 10 minutes and then she would reclaim her jewelry. The last time Miles remembered having the ring on his finger was on the couple’s patio when he was first entrusted with his wife’s ring. After 20 minutes, Christy asked for her sentimental keepsake and that’s when Miles realized that the ring was missing off of his finger.

The couple spent 10 hours searching for the piece of platinum over the next 4 days, utilizing a metal detector that they purchased online. The two even tested another ring that was white gold (not platinum), just to make sure that the metal detector was picking up precious metal, and yet the detector couldn’t even register that target signal!

Christy and Miles were on their hands and knees searching all of the places where Miles may have traveled around in the backyard with the ring. They scanned the patio where Miles fixed a piece of stone. They looked in the two garden beds where he watered plants. They searched the shed and behind the structure where Miles went to get a shovel and acquire some dirt from a nearby pile. The couple was pretty certain that Miles never walked on their backyard lawn so they didn’t metal detect the grassy areas adjacent to where the young man walked.

There were even more areas that Christy and Miles searched. They looked in the recycling bag where Miles had thrown away some branches and miscellaneous tree clippings after he had been pruning the trees over their wooden fence in two different areas. One place that he was reaching over the fence was closer to the patio and the other spot was mid way to the back of the property – still working on that same wooden fence line. It was at that second place along the top of the fence where Miles was trimming some more that he noticed that his beloved wife’s ring was no longer on his finger.

In addition to all of that information that I had acquired, I learned that no garbage or additional recycled items were ever taken to the curb and Miles never went into the house during the time that he was entrusted with Christy’s ring. No gloves were used outside and no contractors or landscapers were ever near the house during this mysterious time frame in question. The only other person that was even close to the couple’s backyard was their neighbor, who kindly helped in the search by looking around his chain linked fence on his side of the property line. Still, even with the added efforts, nothing turned up. The two were simply exhausted and perplexed by the whole situation.

After I completed all of my “investigative questioning”, I formed my plan of action. I explained to the couple how I would approach the search and then I immediately got to work.

My initial focus was to metal detect a number of locations away from the wooden fence due to the interference coming from the neighbor’s chained link fence. Then, if nothing turned up, I would search around those more complicated spaces.

First, I swung my 6 inch coil over the patio, looking around small openings and tiny crevices where the ring could have slipped into. I detected the garden beds but there was no sign of the gem there either. Next, I moved my way towards the shed and searched all of the lawn that was part of Mile’s path leading to and from the far rear of the property. When nothing panned out in that section, I metal detected the pile of dirt that Miles had been taking soil from four days earlier. Unfortunately, no platinum was found there either. Before moving on, I detected the rest of the ground behind the shed and still I couldn’t find the ring anywhere.

Even though the couple shared in their account that Miles had not remembered walking on the main area of the backyard lawn during the time that he had Christy’s ring, I wanted to make sure that that section was clear. Sometimes people have no recollection of being in a certain spot and so they don’t investigate it. Then later, come to find out, that’s exactly where the missing item had ended up all along!

I metal detected the entire backyard lawn that was probably 75 feet by 100 feet. I discovered various metallic items during my journey across the grass, but Christy’s ring was not a part of my findings. My mind rested knowing that I was able to confirm that the sapphire and diamond ring was not lost on the grass and I could concentrate my efforts and energy towards the shed, the fences and the recycling bag of sticks, leaves and branches.

I checked the entire shed but the ring did not turn up there. I looked in the recycling bag but there was not much to even rummage through. That area, as well, was clear of the diamond ring. At that point, I only had the wooden fence area to search.

The way that I tackled the fence area was to focus on the easiest spots to search first. Then, if nothing panned out there, I would strategize how to handle the more complicated sections next.

I started over by the area of the wooden fence that was half way across the property. Just as I shared earlier, the adjacent neighbor’s chain linked fence was running parallel with Miles and Christy’s and I believe there was a gap that was a foot or less between the two structures. I got down on the ground and metal detected not only a pile of dirt that was already combed through by the couple, but I carefully removed dirt and leaves that were near the fences. I did this so that I could metal detect far enough away from the metal fence and not have to worry about interfering signals coming off of the chain linked wall. I discovered other pieces of aluminum but Christie’s ring was not in that location.

Once I knew that everything was clear on the couple’s side of the fence, I requested approval to search on the neighbor’s property. Miles immediately got clearance from his neighbor for me to head on over. Miles and I started down the block and around the corner where we entered the backyard in question.

After introducing myself to Mile’s neighbor, he let us back to the fence line where I began my next investigation. I metal detected all of the piles of weeds and overgrowth which the neighbor had carefully bundled together and everything was clear of the ring.

Next, I moved over to the chain-linked fence and manually moved dirt and debris away from the “metal partition” as I did on the other side of the neighbor’s property. I used a handheld metal detector to see if the ring ended up falling in that area on the ground. When detecting near a metal fence, one must push the loose earth, grass and weeds away from that zone in order to create separation from all that metal interference. If not, the precious item that one is looking for could end up being “masked” over by the dominant signal coming from the fence. Still, unfortunately my efforts led to no avail.

When that task proved to gain no results, I moved my way towards the part of the neighbor’s fence where Miles first leaned over his side of the property to start trimming the tree branches above. I knelt down and looked through the chain linked fence to see if Christy’s ring ended up in the very narrow space between the two fences (approximately 13 inches wide at one end and then down to 1 inch at the other – like a slim triangle of space that was about 4 to 6 feet long between the two fences). There were nothing but untouched, old crinkled up leaves resting on the ground. Again, there was no sign of any precious gems settled at the surface of nature’s remnants.

I tried to metal detect that area with my handheld pinpointer but the metal fence would not allow me get any separation. If I wanted to make sure that the ring didn’t fall down into that spot, I would have to return to Miles and Christy’s property and request that some of their fence pickets be removed in order for me to crawl into that very narrow space between the two fences to metal detect over the leaves.

There was nothing more that I could do on the neighbor’s side, and so I turned back to my client’s yard and updated Miles as to what we needed to do next. I told him that unless I had missed finding the ring somewhere on the property that I had already searched, there was a slim chance that perhaps the ring came off of his finger above that small strip of space between the two fences. Therefore, I requested that he pry off enough fence pickets for me to place my small metal detector coil into that area to conduct my search of that section.

The Wooden Fence that Brian Crawled Into to Metal Detect.

Miles was extremely supportive by removing a number of pickets in order for me to seek out any new clues as to where Christy’s beautiful keepsake ended up. I carefully placed my six inch coil into the opening of the wooden fence and then set my machine to low sensitivity in order to avoid hitting any signals coming from the metal fence. After a few slow swings, I did in fact get some separation from the chain linked divider and a curious target signal reached my metal detector. The numbers that registered on my screen were the very target numbers that I had been looking for during the last few hours of my search! I thought to myself, ‘Could this be too good to be true? Could the ring have fallen to this very spot and buried itself under the leaves?’ I have seen and experienced many bizarre twists and turns in my searches and I hoped that this would be yet another fantastic finish! In all honesty, this was the very last place that the ring could have ended up unless I had accidentally missed it somewhere else on the property.

At first, I leaned half of my body into the open space between the fences and attempted to use my handheld pinpointer to scan the ground in the area where I picked up that promising signal. However, I did not have enough leverage to effectively metal detect with my device far enough away from the chain-linked fence so as to avoid picking up that undesired metal.

The only way that I could effectively investigate that curious signal was to fully crawl into that tiny area between the fences. So that’s exactly what I did next. I asked Miles to pull off a few more pickets and he immediately got to work. Then, I carefully wedged my way into the hole and knelt down at the spot where there was approximately 13 inches of room to bend my knees. I then reduced the sensitivity of my pinpointer so that I didn’t pick up the neighbor’s metal fence. Finally, I began scanning the ground in the area where I sought after that one signal.

So Very Narrow to Position Oneself Into, but Rudolph Did What Needed to be Done to Explore the Last Place Left to Search!

Even on low sensitivity, I would end up picking up the metal fence when I was even 4 inches away from it. Therefore, it was extremely important that I slowly moved the handheld detector across all of the territory that was more than 4 inches away from the fence.

After a minute of moving the pinpointer slowly from left to right and down towards me in that tiny space that I was tucked away in, my handheld detector picked up a small object below the leaves. It happened to be located in the very spot where my other machine registered that one particular target when I was standing on the other side of the fence. As I kept the pinpointer positioned at the same place where it was sounding off and vibrating, I moved my fingers through the debris field of leaves and dry dirt. There before my very own eyes I saw a beautiful silver colored object appear from below! Then, a second later I saw the most glorious “halo” and pretty diamonds surrounding a lovely center stone! I found it! I found Christy’s lost engagement ring! I couldn’t believe it!

After all of that searching, at the very last possible location, I recovered her most precious piece of sentimental jewelry! It was there all along, hidden between the two fences, buried under the old crinkled up leaves that had fallen to the earth the previous autumn season! When Miles had been trimming the tree branches above that spot, the ring had fallen off of his pinky finger and landed back there behind the wooden fence and disappeared into the leaves!

Brian Points to Where the Lovely Engagement Ring was Metal Detected and Recovered!

I was so excited to solve the mystery of the disappearing ring! I was even more thrilled to first surprise Miles with the news, and then soon after spring the reveal upon the love of his life! The couple could not have been happier and finally relieved from their 4 days of complete confusion and bewilderment!

This search and recovery story will live on to be one of my favorite fantastic finishes! I was so happy to be a part of returning two shining smiles back onto the faces of both Christy and Miles!

If you would like to view the SEARCH VIDEO and the fantastic RING REVEAL pertaining to this search, please subscribe to my YouTube channel and you will be notified when the search video is uploaded onto YouTube.

SUBSCRIBE TO BRIAN’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL TO VIEW THIS SEARCH VIDEO!

To receive a NOTIFICATION letting you know when the video is uploaded to YOUTUBE: go to YOUTUBE by CLICKING THE LINK BELOW or OPEN your YOUTUBE APP on your device, go to the SEARCH BAR, type: THE RING HERO, click SUBSCRIBE and lastly, CLICK ON THE “BELL” to receive NOTIFICATIONS when this latest search video is available to view! 

BRIAN’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL LINK: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmcn09QqWhHrj-7SGqlUBJQ

CALL BRIAN RUDOLPH WITH THE RING FINDERS AT (301) 466-8644!

VISIT THE RING FINDER’S WEBSITE TO READ MORE OF BRIAN’S SUCCESSFUL SEARCH STORIES at:

TheRingFinders.com/Brian.Rudolph/

HE WILL RETURN TO YOU WHAT HAS BEEN LOST!

VISIT BRIAN’S PERSONAL WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL STORIES AND INFORMATION AT: www.TheRingHero.net

Lost White Gold Diamond Woman’s Ring in Pataskala, OH. “FOUND”

  • from Newark (Ohio, United States)
Contact:

I received an email about a lost women’s white gold engagement band lost in a park, while she was playing with her son.

I was able to setup a search the same day before the park was full with people for their baseball games.

After a few laps of searching, there was the ring hiding in the grass. She was very happy to have the ring return to her. (her smile is not pictured)

Lost White Gold Diamond Woman’s Ring in Pataskala, OH. “FOUND”

Lost White Gold Diamond Woman’s Ring in Pataskala, OH. “FOUND”

Lost White Gold Diamond Woman’s Ring in Pataskala, OH. “FOUND”

Lost Platinum Diamond Engagement Ring – Southern Shores – Outer Banks, NC – Found

  • from New Smyrna Beach (Florida, United States)

I received a call from Molly in Southern Shores.  She had lost her Platinum Diamond ring on the beach.  I told Molly that I was in Kitty Hawk, which is very close, and I could be there in about 20 minutes.

When I arrived, Molly took me to the beach.  The family had marked off the spot that they thought the ring had ended up.   In the center of the spot was their umbrella and it was bounded by beach chairs.

I fired up the Equinox 800 and began a grid search.  The sand was very course and unlevel.  I covered the area with no hits.  I asked them if they had walked down the  beach or gone in the water.  They answered that they did not.  I decided to sweep the area from the walkway to the chair area…Nothing!

Then I decide to expand the search area outward in the direction of the surf, which was coming up.  Bingo!  Almost immediately I got a strong signal that was right on top.  I reached down with my hand and brushed the sand away.  Diamonds shown in the bright OBX sunlight and I recognized the ring from the picture that Molly had shown me.  Congratulations Molly and family for finding your exquisite ring.

 

Lost ring in Logan Canyon: Found

Sadly, Ryleigh’s mother passed away when Ryleigh was in high school. Her mothers engagement ring, a beautiful gold solitaire with with a large diamond, was set aside for Ryleigh’s own future engagement. That day came last week, when Ryleigh and Wolf got engaged. A few days later, while on a family fishing excursion at Second Dam in Logan Canyon, the ring slipped of her finger and dropped into the water near the boardwalk. They searched for hours, scooping up mud and carefully spreading it out and searching for the ring. When that failed, they rented a metal detector and searched again. Then they found me on TheRingFinders.com. I made the two-hour drive to Cache Valley the next day, met Ryleigh, and started searching. My metal detectors are much better than the kind you can rent, and I’ve found hundreds of rings, so I know how to search in all types of areas. The water was icy, and the mud was deep. This is a popular fishing area, so I found over a dozen fish hooks, several lead weights, and other trash, but after about 30 minutes of searching, I found the ring deep in the mud! Maybe someday Ryleigh will be able to pass the ring on to her own daughter.

LOST WEDDING RING WAIKIKI FOUND!

  • from Waikīkī Beach (Hawaii, United States)

Mid morning I receive a phone call about a loss wedding band in Waikiki from Anjelica. I let Anjelica know that I will come out and help find the ring when I get a break from work. She expressed her gratitude and I gathered as much information as I could to narrow the search site. I then get a phone call from her husband Patrick who was the one who actually lost his wedding ring. We spoke and I gathered a lot more information and that was enough for me so I  decided to stop what I was doing at work and head out to meet up wit Patrick and Angelica. I gathered all my gear and headed to waikiki beach. I meet the couple on the beach and they both express their gratitude and let me know the area of where they believe the ring was lost. I started my grid outside of their area because there was surf and there was also a lot of current. During the search I dug a bunch of different targets that got everyone’s hopes up… including the local family on the beach who’s younger daughter decided to take it upon her shoulders and put on her goggles and help look for this precious ring. After 30 minutes and countless targets I get a familiar sound and I start to dig it with my XTREME scoop. I put on my mask and snorkel and deep in the back of the scoop there is a gold ring. I remember Anjelica telling me the ring is inscribed inside with her name and his. And low and behold … inside the wedding band is both their names! I picked my head up out of the water and noticed Anjelica is 10 feet away from me. I walk over to her and lean over and whisper “it’s a Cartier? And her eyes lit up like the beautiful sunset and with a loud shout she said “YES!”and gave me the biggest hug. I looked over at Patrick and gave him a thumbs up and the beach clapped and celebrated while we all knew what was loss is now found. Another great ending and beautiful day here in the islands. Anjelica and Patrick enjoy your time here in the islands… Aloha is Alive!


Lost Men’s White Gold Wedding Ring – Nags Head – Outer Banks, NC – Found

  • from New Smyrna Beach (Florida, United States)

While I was on the beach looking for a ring that was lost last week, a lady named Katie approached me and told me that her party had lost a ring on the beach earlier in the day.  She showed me an area about 20ft square that she thought her brother-in-law Will had lost the ring.  I covered the area pretty quickly and thoroughly but only found a few bottle caps.  I then asked her if there were any other areas she could think of.

She walked over to an area and asked me if I could make a diagonal from there to a sand mound on the beach.  I put my Equinox 800 to quick work starting at the sand mound.  I got a hit that was strong, but a number that is not normally associated with a ring.  I dug it anyway.

I saw the ring and picked it up with my closed hand.  Sidney, Will’s wife, asked me did you find it.  I said, “could you describe it?”  She described the ring and I handed it to her.  Both Sidney and Katie were overjoyed.   The EQ800

Gold and Diamond Wedding Ring Lost at Venice Beach…Found and Joyfully Returned.

  • from Redondo Beach (California, United States)

Steve’s Emergency Metal Detecting Service For You if you lost a ring or something precious to you. Please don’t wait until tomorrow, time will work against you, please CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CALL NOW! 310-953-5268

I received a call from Jarred asking for help in finding his wife Allison’s wedding ring lost after taking it off to put on sunscreen. She had taken off two rings, and put them in her shorts pocket for safe keeping, but after getting up to go play volley ball with her friends, she realized they were gone. She and her husband, as well as her friends searched, and were able to find one of the rings, but the ring that was originally her grandmother’s was gone, I told them I would be able to get there as soon as I completed another search that I was currently on, and as soon as I was done I would let them know I was on my way.

I got the beach, and found Jarred and Allison. They showed me where Allison had been sitting, and where they found the other ring, so I began my search there, with no results. She then showed me the path she took to the volleyball court, and I slowly covered the area finding a couple of pieces of trash metal, and a dime. I then covered the court where she had played, and also the area where she had shagged some of the balls out of the court. I then worked back to the original area covering a different path. When we got back, Allison’s friends had moved all of the belongings so I could perform a more thorough search in the area. I worked back from where they had recovered the other ring, and at least 5 feet back from where she had been sitting I got a good signal, and recovered her ring. The whole group of her friends erupted with joy, and had me line up with them for a group shot. What a fun and happy eventful day!

 

Don’t let the County beach cleaning machines take your lost valuable, call as soon as possible! I will work hard, using the most up to date metal detectors, to help you find what you thought might never be found again. I search, Beverly Hills, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Northridge, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach, and all parks, yards, gardens, and ponds (to 5 foot depths) in all of Orange County, all of Los Angeles County, Southern California, and Ventura County.

CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CALL NOW! 310-953-5268

Diamond Engagement Ring Lost in the Sand at Redondo Beach…Found and Joyfully Returned.

  • from Redondo Beach (California, United States)

Steve’s Emergency Metal Detecting Service For You if you lost a ring or something precious to you. Please don’t wait until tomorrow, time will work against you, please CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CALL NOW! 310-953-5268

I was on my way back from a week in the High Sierra about 15 miles from home from a 350 mile drive when I received a desperation call from Yvette who had lost her engagement ring in the sand at the beach. I asked if she could wait for me to get home, and I would immediately come and help her, she said she could wait. I got home, grabbed my equipment, and headed out, letting my wife and son start to unpack from the trip.

When I got to the beach Yvette, and her family met me, and showed me an area that they had marked out in the sand believing it was where the ring was lost. I could see mounds of sand where they had been working moving the sand around looking for the ring. We talked about what she was doing when the ring was lost, and it seemed very likely that they had been looking in the right vicinity, so I began my search there. I flattened the mounds to scan them thoroughly, covering the area completely, but no ring. I then began moving out, and on the edge of the area they had marked out, received a good signal, dug, and there was Yvette’s engagement ring. When I gave it to her there were tears of joy, and the excitement of all the family members. Her father then told me that it was her birthday as well; what a great day!

Yvette sent the following testimonial:

My name is Yvette Cisneros. I have written this testimony about 3 times now and I can’t find the right words to express the gratitude I have for Steve Smith. After losing my engagement ring at Redondo Beach , I lost hope of ever finding it again. My mom suggested renting a metal detector online. So when I searched “where to rent a metal detector, the first site that popped up was theringfinders.com. I then proceeded to open the page, saw Steve’s number and called. When he showed up walking down the beach with all his gear my heart felt relief. When he found me he asked a few questions as to where it might have possibly fallen off, so I showed him. (I also had made a barrier around where I thought it might have been). He then equipped himself to start the scavenger hunt. He found a quarter and a penny before he found my ring and let me tell you every time he would get one out my heart just felt like it was going to explode. When I finally got my ring I was overjoyed with emotions. I cried like a baby. I can’t ever put to words how grateful I am to have been able to find theringfinders. 

Also i would love to add… he found my ring in less than 5 min. Which I had spent an hour looking for. Thank you a million times Steve. You are amazing and the job you do is god sent! 

 

Don’t let the County beach cleaning machines take your lost valuable, call as soon as possible! I will work hard, using the most up to date metal detectors, to help you find what you thought might never be found again. I search, Beverly Hills, Hermosa Beach, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Newport Beach, Northridge, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, Seal Beach, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Venice Beach, Zuma Beach, and all parks, yards, gardens, and ponds (to 5 foot depths) in all of Orange County, all of Los Angeles County, Southern California, and Ventura County.

CALL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CALL NOW! 310-953-5268

LOST WEDDING RING FOUND! – KOHLER-ANDRAE STATE PARK, WI

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

A weekend camping trip May 21-23 on the spectacular Lake Michigan shores of Kohler-Andrae State Park, near Sheboygan, WI, was just what the Dr. ordered for Sussex resident, Trevor Olsen and his bride of 6 years. It was a last get-away before moving to the state of Washington the following week.

The perfect time together suddenly turned to despair when the couple was packing up to leave. That is when Trevor realized his wedding ring, a family heirloom, was missing from his hand! He recalled taking it off and tucking it into a flap inside the tent the night before. Perhaps it flew out when they shook the tent as they prepared to leave. A frantic search in the grass and surrounding woods ensued but to no avail. The ring had vanished.

I received a phone call from Trevor early the next morning. I was not feeling well and so reached out to other Ring Finders in the area but nobody was available on short notice. Time was of the essence with the pending move and all. Trevor was desperate. And so I made the decision to drive up with my wife so she could help with the driving as needed.

Arriving an hour later, I located the camp site and pulled in behind Trevor’s car. Trevor was waiting anxiously. I followed him up the hill to the location where the tent had been pitched. I could still see the tent’s imprint in the grass. Returning back down the hill to my vehicle I proceeded to set out my equipment and snapped a tool belt/pouch around my waist. But as I reached down to pick up my trusty XP Deus detector, a glimmer caught my eye on the driveway less than an inch from where my search coil rested on the pavement. I instinctively picked it up, examined it and handed it to Trevor asking, “Is this your ring?”

The look of shock and disbelief on Trevor’s face confirmed the amazing discovery was indeed his wedding ring!

Now, how it ended up on the driveway so far from the camp site will forever remain a mystery. It could have just as easily ended up under my vehicle out of sight. Strange how these things happen sometimes.

I am thrilled, Trevor, to have recovered your precious ring and in such a memorable way. I wish you and your bride a successful move to Washington and many, many more happy years together.

LOST WEDDING RING FOUND! – MENOMONEE FALLS, WI

  • from Menomonee Falls (Wisconsin, United States)

Annual yard work and garage cleaning are two chores John Ritter of Menomonee Falls is always glad to check off his honey-do list. But the weekend labors of May 15-16 proved less than satisfying when John realized his wedding ring was missing. He searched frantically, even scouring the ground on his knees in all the locations where he had raked and pulled weeks. Did the ring get thrown out by mistake? This thought left him with a nauseating feeling.

I received a phone call from John and reviewed his timeline of events. After 40 plus years of experience, I’ve learned forensic-type questions can greatly narrow the possibilities. Given the variety of activities and the amount of time that had lapsed, it seemed finding John’s ring was a long shot. But we agreed to meet and at least rule out the yard areas where he had worked. As John led me through his activities on location, he mentioned having cleaned out a bird bath in the garden, that he had used a garden hose and shook the water off his hand. I made a mental note to check that area thoroughly. My hunch paid off.

The ring announced its presence to my XP Deus Detector as I investigated the bushes near the birdbath. It lay buried out of sight beneath its greenery. The long shot paid off. And the smile on John’s face tells the rest of the story.