Property Marker Pin Lost In Kennebunk Maine, Found With A Metal Detector




On Thursday September 25th, I had an appointment in Portland,Maine. Just as I was approaching Portland, I received a Phone call from Deborah, about a lost ring. We made plans for Cheryl and I to meet her, as soon as my appointment was over.
Once Cheryl and I arrived at Deborah’s home, Deborah told us that approximately a week earlier she had been sitting on her deck, in the backyard. Deborah had been gardening and her fingers were very sweaty, so she had taken her three rings off and placed them on the table.While sitting at the table, someone bumped into the table and her three rings went spilling, onto the deck. Everyone immediately started looking for the rings and two of Deborah’s rings were found immediately, including her engagement ring. One ring was on the deck and the other ring was found down on the bricks, that surrounded the deck. The missing third ring is Deborah’s wedding ring and she desperately wanted to find it. After searching for a while, the ring was not found. The consensus was that the ring must have somehow slipped through the very narrow boards, of the deck and ended up under the deck. The other theory, as to where the wedding ring had ended up was that it rolled into the leaves and or plants, around the deck and garden. Unfortunately, a visual search did not find the ring. Deborah also had someone come over and remove two of the boards, on the deck, hoping the ring would be found or seen. Once again, no ring was in sight.
Since Cheryl and I we were already on our way to my appointment, in Portland, I didn’t have any of my metal detecting equipment or flashlights. We decided to perform a visual search in the leaves and as best we could, under the deck. We also were not able to visually see the ring. I told Deborah that I could certainly come back with all my equipment and search for her wedding ring. Deborah told us that she and her husband were leaving for Boston, the next day and would be gone, until early the following week. We made plans to communicate on Monday and set up a time for Cheryl and I to come back and search, once again. On Monday, we decided to meet today, Thursday, October 2nd, to search for her wedding ring.
Cheryl and I arrived this morning and were promptly met by Deborah and her husband, Bill. This time however, Cheryl and I had brought my metal detector, pinpointer, flashlights, a small rake and a borescope (very similar to an endoscope, but not for medical use). Our plan was to first search the area under the deck, where the boards were taken off. I would use the small rake and reach underneath the deck and rake everything towards the opening of the removed boards. I would then search search the raked up debris with my metal detector. As I was doing this, Cheryl would check the other area of the deck, by using a flashlight to look between the gaps, of the boards, with a flashlight. If nothing was seen, we would use the Borescope, up and down the deck , between all gaps, in the boards. If we still hadn’t found the ring, we would then start searching, away from the deck, in the leaves and plants.
After raking the debris forward, I was searching under the deck, with my metal detector. Cheryl had the flashlight and was searching the gaps. I found a piece of metal and gave it to Deborah and that’s all I found, under the first removed board. Cheryl was working her way towards the other end of the deck and had moved the table, so she could get a better look, in between the gaps. All of a sudden, Cheryl blurts out, “ I SEE THE RING”. Deborah and I both went over to Cheryl and Cheryl showed us the ring, between the gap, of the boards. The ring had actually gone in a slightly opposite direction, as the other two rings. It was not near either removed board and was on the other side of a supporting beam, for the deck. Deborah said she had something that may work, in getting the ring. It was a wire hook and Cheryl was able to hook the ring but the ring would not straighten out and wouldn’t fit through the gap. As Cheryl lifted the hooked ring up to the gap, I slid my arm under the support beam, as far as I could and I was able to get a hold on the ring. Once I was able to remove the ring, from the hook, I pulled the ring, out from under the deck and handed the wedding ring to Deborah. Deborah immediately stated “You have no idea how happy I am to have my wedding ring back.” By the smile on Deborah’s and Bill’s faces, we had a pretty good idea. Cheryl asked the couple how long they have been married and their reply was “Forever”. Bill and Deborah told Cheryl and I the story of their wedding rings. The wedding rings were custom made by Portland Old Port Jeweler, Designs by CC and Bill’s ring is the same ring, minus the diamond. A his and hers set, so to speak. Now the missing ring is back with its mate and everyone is all smiles. We love being able to help others out in their time of need, like Deborah. Cheryl and I love our jobs 😀❤️🙏


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 🇺🇸❤️🙏

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 😃 ❤️🙏


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. ❤️🙏


Friday afternoon, August 15th, I received a phone call from Erica, at 3:24pm. Erica told me that she had just lost her wedding ring, in the water, in Moody Beach, Wells, Maine. Her wedding ring was also soldered to another ring, which I took as being her engagement ring. Erica said she had a sore, on her finger and her rings were aggravating the open sore. As she was walking in the shallow water, she was trying to adjust her rings, so as to not aggravate the sore any more than it was and to relieve some of the pain. All of a sudden, the rings fell into the surf and out of sight. She immediately stopped and looked for the rings but the waves were rushing by her and the rings were out of sight. What Erica did next was extraordinary, she didn’t panic and took measures to give someone the best opportunity to recover the rings. She had stopped immediately when the rings fell, she took photographs of where she was standing, in the water. The photos showed she was directly in front of a yellow house, that was boarded up, due to this past winter’s storm damage. Then Erica had the sense to walk to the seawall and count how many steps it was, to the seawall. Amazing!!! Erica counted 70 of her steps, from where the rings were dropped, to the seawall, of the yellow shuttered window. As this was going on, someone walked by and saw Erica searching for something. As they talked, the person told her to contact me, as I have had some success in recovering lost ring. This is when Erica called me, not 20 minutes, after losing her very sentimental rings. Erica knew the tide was now coming in, as high tide was a little over an hour away. I told Erica my best chance was to come down there in the early morning, as the tide would be receding. I planned to get there at 6:30am and follow the tide out and Erica agreed to meet me there, even though she was leaving the next day, to return home, in Vermont. A few minutes later, as I was sitting here, thinking about the next morning’s search, I thought to myself, why don’t you just go down tonight at 6:30pm, as the tide receded. My mind must be slipping because that should have been the plan all along. I immediately called Erica and told her that the plan had changed and I would be there tonight, at 6:30pm. She said she would meet me there.
Cheryl and I actually arrived a little earlier than planned and I called Erica, telling her I would start searching, following the tide out, with the incredible detailed information she had sent me. I then went to the seawall and I counted 50 steps out, from the yellow house. I then stopped because I wanted to make sure I over searched the area, in case the rings had moved in the waves. I would grid search the area, from the stairs in front of the house, just to the south, to the middle of the house, just to the north. After one or two passes, I saw Erica arrive at the scene. She told me that I was exactly where I should be. She then counted out her 70 steps and I was rapidly approaching that area. A couple more passes and nothing found but a piece of a pair of sunglasses. I then continued the grid search and just a moment later I received a good sounding signal. Low tone and VDI reading was a 68, definitely a possibility. Unfortunately , the shape of the target was elongated, just like the sunglasses, a few minutes earlier. But, since the target was non ferrous, I told Erica and Cheryl that I think I just found the rest of the sunglasses and I didn’t think it was the ring because it just looked wrong. As I dumped the scoop of sand out and located the target, I could not believe what I saw. A large gold ring that Erica also saw and I told her to have the honor of retrieving it from the sand. Erica was very excited and emotional, both tearful and laughing with joy. Cheryl and I were just smiling, enjoying the moment and getting a few happy hugs, from Erica. She was definitely in disbelief and just so happy to have her rings back. When I asked her if this were her Engagement and Wedding Rings, she told us the story of the large ring. Erica said that 24, 25 years ago she was dating a guy and they were crazy about each other. They decided that if they went on a Caribbean vacation together and they survived each other, for a week, maybe, just maybe, they had something together. While on vacation, she saw a ring she really liked but it was expensive. Her boyfriend and future husband told Erica that if she could beat him, in a game of pool, he would buy her the ring. Well, she has the ring, so we know who won the game of pool. Erica considers it her engagement ring. Very cool story and I can definitely see why the rings are so sentimental. Erica and her husband have now been happily married for 24+ years. You just can’t replace rings like these and all the memories that have been made, while wearing them. Thankfully the story of these rings will have another chapter added to them and it will be a happy chapter. It’s the best feeling in the world, to be able to help people like Erica and see the happiness that is brought to them, when I am able to locate their rings. ❤️🙏


After finding an antique engagement ring, in an Acton, Maine pond, on Wednesday, I was certain I wouldn’t be called out again. Boy, was I wrong. At approximately 4:10 pm, I had a phone call, from a foreign country. The number was +44 **** ******, UK. I was in no way, answering a call from the UK because of all the scammers that call, on a daily basis. I let the call, go to voicemail. This is the transcript of that voicemail
“Hi, I’m looking for Dennis Boothby. I’m staying at the The Nonantum Resort, in Kennebunkport Maine. My name is Marguerite A***** and we are in room ***. I talked to the lady, driving the bus and she said you might be able to help. I’ve lost some rings, on the beach, Gooch’s Beach. I wonder if you could call me back, my number is, at the Nonamtum is 207-***-****. The UK number is +44 **** ******. Thanks so much.”
I immediately called Marguerite back and she told me that she had lost
“Not 1 ring, not 2 rings, but 3 rings. They are very special rings and I hope you can help. You have come highly recommended”
Marguerite then told me that she and her husband, Chris were staying at The Nonantum Resort and had taken the Nonamtum ‘s shuttle bus, over to Gooch’s Beach, enjoying the day, at the private beach area of Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite had taken her three rings off, to apply lotion and had placed the rings, in her lap, intending to put them back on. As she was sitting there, at the high tide mark, a very large wave rushed up at everyone, on the beach. She was startled by the wave and immediately jumped up, as the wave rolled past her. Her three very special rings landed in the surf, as the wave rolled past. When the wave retreated, she and Chris started looking for the rings. Even other beach goers were helping to look, for the now lost rings. Someone gave Chris a sifter and he would sift the sand, from the area, but couldn’t find the rings. They were convinced the rings had been pulled down, towards the water, as the wave retreated. I told Marguerite that it is my experience that the rings would be very close, to where she lost them and I would leave immediately and meet her and Chris, at Gooch’s Beach. Marguerite then told me that Chris had placed a log right where they had been sitting, so they would remember, where they had been. Perfect and brilliant. As a side note, the original name of Gooch’s Beach, was Boothby’s Beach, back in the early 1700’s. Could this be a good omen?
Cheryl and I arrived at Gooch’s Beach and the parking was horrendous. We drove around a few times and someone was finally pulling out. I parked in that spot but it was all the way on the opposite end of the beach, up near Lord’s Point. Once parked we walked down to the other end of the beach and Marguerite was there waiting and she recognized me. She told me Chris was walking down to the Private Beach area, to start looking again. As Marguerite, Cheryl and I started walking down the beach, Marguerite told us she had been wearing these extremely sentimental rings for almost 35 years. The rings were an Engagement Ring, Wedding Ring and a large special ring and she was heartbroken that she had lost them. Once we arrived at the log, Chris pointed out the area where they had searched and I could see all the areas, where the sand had been dug through. Both Chris and Marguerite thought the rings had been pulled out towards the water but I told them I didn’t believe that would be the case. I turned my metal detector on and asked Marguerite where she had been sitting. She pointed out the location and as I put the detector, to the sand, I received a loud signal and I could see two different non ferrous targets, on my screen. One registering a 28 and the other a 34. I hadn’t even swung the metal detector and I have received two very promising targets. Could this be real? Did I just find two of Marguerite’s very special rings, without even swinging my detector? WOW! I took my pinpointer out and located one of the targets, a gold ring, with rectangular diamonds, all the way around. Marguerite immediately let out a shriek of happiness. I located the next target and I saw another gold ring, this one with what appeared to be a large emerald with a diamond, on each side. UNBELIEVABLE !!!! Marguerite and Chris were in disbelief and just beaming with optimism, that I would locate the third ring. This would be a large gold ring, with diamonds all around. As I stood up and started to swing the detector, I received another very loud low tone, ringing up as a 68 on the VDI screen. This could not be happening. Did I just find the thing ring with just a partial swing. I could see Marguerite very excited and once I located the target with the pinpointer, I started wiping sand off the top of it. All of a sudden, I saw a perfect circular piece of gold. Marguerite screamed out in happiness. I took a photo, just as it just laid ,in the sand. I then picked it up and put it on its side, took another photo and then passed it to Marguerite who at this point, must have thought she was in a dream. Convinced her rings had been pulled out to sea, only to have someone show up and find them, without fully swinging his metal detector. I mean, I myself was thinking this was a dream. Marguerite and Chris have been married for over 34 years and the thought of losing these exquisite rings was just gut wrenching to them. To see their faces go from anguish to joy, in a matter of seconds is something so special to witness. Cheryl and I were just so happy for Marguerite and Chris, that they wouldn’t have to take their flight, across the pond, to London, without these very, very special rings, that hold so many memories. These rings could never, ever be replaced because of all the memories they hold, for Marguerite and Chris. It’s such a great feeling to be able to help people like Marguerite and Chris, in their time of need. As I often say, every ring has a story and now these three rings have one heck of a story to tell, all the way Bain the UK.


On Monday evening, August 11th, I received the following text, from John
John – “Can you search in water up to 4.5 feet”
Me – “Yes. If in the ocean, it would depend on the wave action.”
John – “Horn Pond near the boat launch. It’s in Acton, Maine.”
Me – “What is the object that I would be searching for?”
John – “An antique 10k gold ring with gems? It was my girlfriend’s grandmothers?”
Me – “Did she see the ring come off and that is why the ring is thought to be there?”
John – “Yes. She was wearing it on a necklace splashing around and the necklace broke.”
Me – “Ok, how long ago was it lost and I’m sure people have visually searched? Is the bottom of the pond sandy?”
John – “It was lost Sunday. Two people searched for about 30 minutes but we had to leave. It’s sandy with a lot of rocks.”
Me – “Ok, I can certainly search for it. Would someone be able to meet me there and show me the location?”
John replied that he could meet me there, on Wednesday, at 8:00am. I told him that I would be there, with my diving detector, the Minelab Excalibur II.
So, Wednesday morning, Cheryl and I drove the 50 minutes to Horn Pond, in Acton Maine!, from our home, in Saco, Maine. We arrived a few minutes early and John was still on his way. He explained the location to me and I decided to start searching for the antique ring, prior to his arrival. I would grid search parallel with the dam, which runs across the state border line, from Acton, Maine, into Wakefield, New Hampshire. My first multi state search, let’s hope it’s successful. I immediately realized that this area of the pond had never been metal detected. I was finding many coins and even a stainless steel fidget or spinner ring. During the first grid line pass, John and his girlfriend, Brooklyn showed up and sat on the dam, as I searched. I explained that I need to start along the dam, because it was where they entered the pond and when the chain broke, Brooklyn’s ring May have flung, in any direction. I needed to know where I had been and where I hadn’t been. I would work my way, to the area where they had been splashing around, just 15 or 20 feet or so away. Brooklyn told me the ring was yellow gold, with a blue gemstone. I told them that if the ring were here, I would find it.
I continued the first grid line pass, but no ring. I then started back towards the Maine shore and more coins were being found, but no ring. For such a small area, there were a lot of coins. I then headed back to New Hampshire and I told John and Brooklyn that I was hoping the ring didn’t end up in the deeper water, on the New Hampshire side, of the pond. I will usually go as deep as my neck, if I feel safe. If the ring ended up in 6 feet of water, I wouldn’t be able to get it. Nothing but more coins found m heading to New Hampshire. I then turned and headed towards Maine, once again. Approximately 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the Maine shore I received the best sounding tone, in my headphones. Unlike the Minelab Manticore metal detector, that I use, the Excalibur is by sound only. No VDI screen to show me ferrous or non ferrous. No depth gauge and no conductivity VDI numbers. The Excalibur is just by tone and tone alone. I have been using an Excalibur since 2006 and you get to know the sound of different items. Gold has a very low tone that is music to my ears. This target was the sound of gold. I stopped what I was doing and told Brooklyn and John that “this one sounds really good”. I told Cheryl to start the video because I knew if this wasn’t Brooklyn’s ring, it was still going to be gold. Because the bottom of the pond was sand and rocks, I had been fanning the sand, with my hand, because my scoop couldn’t get through all the rocks. By fanning the sand away, I could then see the target. So I knelt and bent over low, slowly fanning the sand away and then I caught a glimpse of a shiny gold ring. It had a blue stone, just like Brooklyn had said. I pick the ring up, raised my hand up out of the water and said, “there you go, I got it.” I then walked it over to the young couple and passed it to John, who then passed it to Brooklyn. She now had her extremely sentimental ring back. A ring that was once her grandmother’s engagement ring, in now back where it belongs. Brooklyn and John were all smiles and still in disbelief that she had the ring back. Just three days earlier, they thought the ring was gone forever and John mentioned to his sister that Brooklyn had lost her ring. John’s sister told him he should call The Ring Finders of Maine and John who had never heard of us looked at his sister and said, “The Ring who?” John and Brooklyn know who we are and told me they will be telling everyone about us and they will be doing it with smiles, on their faces.
I love being able to help people like Brooklyn because a ring like hers is more than just a ring, more than just a monetary value, it is family history. Now Brooklyn will have a chance to continue to add history with her ring. When I see her face and it is no longer sad, but happy, I know I will sleep well tonight. ❤️🙏

After finding and returning a lost necklace, with two pendants, in Ogunquit, Maine, Cheryl and I returned home. It wasn’t a half hour after returning home, when I received the following message, that also included three photos,
“I lost a gold knot ring on Ogunquit Beach yesterday. It is inscribed inside with 4/13/1975. Here are pics where we were sitting.”
I immediately replied,
“Hi Kristine, I am so sorry to hear this.
“I literally just returned from Ogunquit, Maine. I found a lost necklace and pendants, for a young lady.
Were you in the water or dry sand? I can’t tell where this is, from the photos. I have only been down near the Norseman Resort. Is this near the Norseman Resort?
Kristine replied,
“Hello. The ramp going down to the beach from parking lot just before the handicap spaces. We were in the left of the ramp a few feet in front of the rocks. It was the dry sand. In the pic with the women in white looking at the sand was where we were located We were far right if the Norseman off the parking lot. Is this enough info? If you plan on going back I can meet you there. I am here another night but will be going back to Mass sometime tomorrow
Kris”
I then sent Kristine a photo and I circled two ramps and asked her to identify which ramp is the one she was at. She replied that it was the one I had circled in red. I asked her if she could meet me there and that I would leave right now. Kristine said she would meet me there. Now when a ring is missing, in a public space, time is of the essence. Especially in the dry sand on beaches. The area Kristine had been in is very heavily metal detected and I was praying no one had found it yesterday, or this morning. Any beach goer could also have found it already, also. I needed to get there, asap. I also asked Kristine if she saw or felt the ring coming off. Her reply
“I think it was when I took it off to put lotion on and then place it in a pouch. The odd thing was I also had 2 other rings that I took off and they made it into the pouch. I did not feel it fall. Yes been praying to St Anthony 🙏?”
As I arrived back, to Ogunquit Maine, I called Kristine and told her I had just arrived, she told me that she was stuck in traffic and was still 10 minutes out. I told Kristine that I would start searching, without her and if I was in the wrong location, she could let me know, when she arrived. Cheryl and I immediately went down the ramp and the area was still packed with people. There was an area no one was in and it looked just like the photo, that Kristine had sent me. As I was getting my detector ready, I explained to the people, in the area, that I was searching for a very sentimental lost ring. Everyone was very understanding and asked if I needed them to move. I told them they didn’t need to move just yet, as I would search the area, no one was in. If I was unable to find the ring, I would have Kristine show me the exact area, once she arrived in approximately 10 minutes. As I started my search, I found a dime, on the first grid line. I took a half step towards the parking lot, I started my grid line search. About 3 steps in, I heard a very loud target, through the headphones. I took my pinpointer out of my pouch and located the target. As I brushed the sand away m I saw a Big Gold Ring, with a knot design on it. I couldn’t believe I just found Kristine’s ring as everyone in the area started clapping and cheering for me. Unbelievable. The only area I could search and I had the ring, before Kristine had even arrived. I asked everyone not to say anything to Kristine when she arrived because I wanted to surprise her. They all agreed.
Kristine arrived a few moments later and I asked her if I was in the right area. When Kristine turned around, to survey the area, I pulled the ring out and held it up. When Kristine turned around she saw the ring and her hand went to her heart and I could see her eyes getting watery. Applause broke out from the surrounding people and smiles were everywhere. Kristine explained that her husband had passed away 7 years earlier and that she had taken her wedding ring, her husband’s wedding ring and had them melted together. The jeweler then designed the Knot Ring, with their wedding date engraved, on the inside of the ring, 4-13-75. This meant that they would be entwined for eternity. Now Cheryl, myself and others around us were getting teary eyed. Kristine’s friend told us that Kristine was just sick to her stomach about losing this ring and had not slept much, the night before. Kristine even talked to her husband, through prayer and told him she was sorry to have lost their wedding rings. Wow, What a story and I am so happy to have been able to find this extremely sentimental ring. As I always say, every ring has a story and now I am part of the story. I could not be happier or more proud, to have been able to be there for Kristine. 😀❤️🙏


As Cheryl and I were out running errands, this morning, I received the following text
“Hi we are in Ogunquit Beach my son’s girlfriend lost a necklace yesterday evening do you come this far? Tide came in overnight but didn’t hit where we were sitting I looked this morning again”
I replied
“Hi, So sorry to hear this. I do go to Ogunquit, Maine: Beautiful Place by the Sea.
So was the necklace lost in the dry sand, along the high tide mark?
A concern would be that necklaces don’t immediately sink into the sand, like a ring. They have too much surface area to sink, unless stepped on. If it were laying on the surface, anyone could have seen it.
Another concern would be other metal detectorists at the beach. The area is heavily detected.
Which area of the beach? Near the Norseman Resort?”
Mary Ellen replied,
“It was down the beach near the 1st bridge marker 3
Dry sand was on her towel and she didn’t realize it and picked up her towel after getting out of water. Yes, right near the edge of the the high tide mark and yes we were concerned someone just picked it up. We did go down last evening right after she realized it was missing and looked around. I was looking for someone with a detector this morning. I do see them down there a lot but no luck. It had a pennant and gold chain ”
Mary Ellen and I then made plans to meet me at Ogunquit, Maine. I would park at her sister’s condo and her sister, Julie would walk me down to the area where the necklace and pendants were lost. Cheryl and I arrived and were met by Julie, Julie walked us down over the bridge, past the Norseman Resort, Tidal Suites-On Ogunquit Beach, Maine, lifeguard stand and volleyball court area. Julie saw Mary Ellen’s husband standing at the spot, where the necklace and pendants were lost. Mary Ellen, her son Josh and Josh’s girlfriend, Simi, were not there. So, Without hesitation, I was shown the area the family had been at the previous day. No more than a 10’ X 10’ area. I turned the detector on and demonstrated how the detector works, to Julie and Mary Ellen’s husband. I had brought a gold necklace and pendant, dropped it onto the sand, to demonstrate that it wouldn’t completely disappear. It didn’t disappear and you could still see approximately 1/2 of the necklace. I then ran my coil, over the necklace so that they could see and hear, what I was looking for. Once the calibration and demonstration were over, I told Julie that I would start a grid search from the high tide water line, towards the dunes for about 10’, turn around and grid search, on the way back. I had taken 2 steps forward and received my first signal. It wasn’t a great sounding target, very scratchy sounding and a 21 on the VDI screen. I put my hand into the sand and found nothing. Hand in the sand again and again nothing. I was thinking it was a small piece of aluminum or foil. Since it was a non ferrous target, I then took my pinpointer out and located the target. As I wiped the sand away, I caught a glimpse of something Gold. I then saw a very thin necklace attached to a gold pendant. I literally just found the lost necklace, in 15 seconds of actual search time. I couldn’t believe it and picked the necklace up and both Julie and her brother in law were in disbelief, as he triumphantly raised his hands. He then called Mary Ellen, to tell him the good news. Mary Ellen, Josh and Simi were on their way down the beach and Josh started running to us, when he heard the news of the necklace and pendants being found. When Josh saw the necklace and pendant he was smiling ear to ear, as was Simi and Mary Ellen, when they arrived, a few moments later. The mood was jovial and I was being thanked, over and over. I asked Simi if there were any sentimental ties to the necklace and pendants being found she told me that the Necklace and Cross Pendant, were a Christmas gift, from her parents. The rectangular and heart pendant was a gift, from Josh, at their 18 month anniversary. I would say they were very sentimental. I was just so happy for Simi and Josh, as they were just beaming with happiness, the the necklace was once again on Simi’s neck.
A little while later I received a text from Mary Ellen. She texted
“Thank you!! I am so glad I texted you this morning
Also You’re welcome!
Broke my heart when Simi was crying last night so glad it was found .”
I am also very happy, to have turned Simi’s tears, into a bright smiling face. No better feeling than reuniting others, with a lost item they thought was lost forever. 😀❤️🙏

