Dockside Wedding Ring Recovery, Mantoloking NJ, recovered by Edward Trapper, NJ Ring Finder
Dockside Wedding Ring Recovery After 3 Weeks Under Ice
While enjoying a vacation in Mexico, I noticed a Facebook post from a gentleman named Tom who was desperately searching for help recovering his wedding ring. The ring had bounced off the end of his dock while he was feeding the seagulls and disappeared into the river below.
I reached out and let him know I would gladly help once I returned home. Tom said that would be fine and planned to contact me in about a week.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans.
Shortly after the loss, we went into a deep freeze and both the river and bay froze solid for nearly three weeks. The ring sat beneath the ice the entire time.
Once conditions improved, Tom contacted me and we carefully went over all the details — water depth, bottom composition, current conditions, and any obstacles near the dock. He mentioned there were a few rocks at the end of the pier where the ring had fallen. I didn’t anticipate that being much of an issue.
But when I arrived and suited up, I quickly realized there were far more than “a few rocks.”
For quite some time, the family had been tossing softball-sized rocks off the end of the dock, unknowingly creating what looked like an artificial reef directly below where the ring had fallen. The rocks were piled high at the exact drop zone.
Thankfully, I received a strong signal almost immediately — and it was the only signal in the area. The target was located right at the edge of the rock pile.
Working carefully, I had to move several rocks by hand in frigid water to isolate the signal. After six to eight precise scoops — making sure no rocks interfered — I finally lifted the scoop and saw gold.
Tom stood there in disbelief as his wedding ring emerged from the water.
We were extremely fortunate the ring had landed on the outer edge of the rock pile. Had it fallen deeper into the center of the stones, this recovery would have been far more complicated.
A successful recovery after three weeks under ice — and a great way to start the new year.

Dockside Wedding Ring Recovery After 3 Weeks Under Ice
On February 8th I had just finished feeding my goats and came in the house and started washing dishes and realized my rings that I wear on my right hand were missing. They have been pretty lose with the cold weather but I didn’t actually believe they could slip off without me feeling it. So I began tearing the house apart with no luck. My husband came home from work on the 11th and with tears in my eyes I broke the news to him with great sorrow. I felt as though they were gone forever. My husband immediately started turning furniture upside down and checking every square inch of the house with no luck. My husband had an idea of calling a metal detector guy because he felt as though maybe the rings slipped off my finger while taking care of our goats. I was skeptical but figured why not. They started the search and just as they thought the rings were gone forever, the detector went off and my precious gems were found unharmed. I can’t explain the gratitude I feel but my tears of JOY show a lot. I’d like to thank Jeremy Roth with Ring Finders located in Washington, MO., for traveling over an hour south to help us out! Great service and an even better outcome!







