US

Florida Man Accidentally Trashes Wife’s Engagement Ring Then Recovers the $10,000 Band in a Landfill

Florida Man Recovers $10,000 Engagement Ring in Landfill

Brian McGuinn was willing to go anywhere and do anything to recover his wife’s engagement ring which he mistakenly threw out in the trash. Anything including combing through more than 9 tons of waste:

The Florida man had accidentally trashed the $10,000 engagement ring when his wife was in the shower and had asked him to put it away so it would not get lost down the drain. Already having his hands full, McGuinn accidentally threw out the ring with an old razor. 

“It was so thoughtless,” McGuinn told the Sun-Sentinel. 

The St. Augustine News writes that McGuinn’s wife Anna could not stop crying when her husband told her the next morning after he realized that he had accidentally thrown away the ring. After following the garbage from trash bin to dumpster to truck, McGuinn ventured to the next destination where he hoped he may find the lost ring: the county dump.

McGuinn suited up in a protective vest, goggles and suit, and then sifted through the county landfill for more than 30 minutes in search of the ring.

“Nastiness you wouldn’t believe,” McGuinn told the Sun-Sentinel. “It was absolutely disgusting. It stunk beyond belief. The smell was God-awful. Everything unsanitary you could think of crossed my path at least a couple times. I took an extraordinarily long shower and toothbrushes were used.”

However after all that nastiness, McGuinn spotted a tiny glimmer of hope surrounded by black sludge wedged between two brown bags. The $10,000 engagement ring was found!

Florida Man Recovers $10,000 Engagement Ring in Landfill

McGuinn told the Sun-Sentinel that the moral of the story is perseverance; ”A lot of people don’t find things; it’s gone. But I knew I had to try.”

The McGuinns have been married five years, and Anna is five months pregnant with the couple’s first child.

 

 

 

Comments (45)

  • bitterclinger
    Posted on November 14, 2011 at 9:26pm

    The prayer: St. Anthony, St. Anthomy, please come around. Something is lost that needs to be found.

    Report Post » bitterclinger  
  • GlennBeckFTW
    Posted on November 14, 2011 at 1:17am

    Now that’s a real conservative man! “I don’t see nothing wrong, with a little bump n grind”

    Report Post »  
  • elspeth
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 8:08pm

    I’ve got news for you – there’s no way that that ring is worth $10,000. At the high end it might be worth 4-5 thousand.

    Report Post »  
    • Liberty7
      Posted on November 14, 2011 at 12:25am

      Shhhh! He told her ten and he‘s stickn’ to his story.

      Report Post »  
  • atlantic101
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 7:46pm

    Every fight form now on between them will end with this. He’ll throw this up in her face every time. And rightfully so……… I wonder if they’ll be together in 10 years…. I wonder if he did it out of love or economics…….I suppose digging at the garbage dump for a few hours is worth saving 10 grand. But think of the diseases he might bring home to his beloved…. I also suppose if he didn’t find it, he’d still have a winning argument…

    Report Post »  
  • Jennifer_D
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 11:37am

    Now this guy deserves a few brownie points! He obviously went above and beyond to get the ring back after making a terrible mistake. Great guy!

    Report Post » Jennifer_D  
    • c0mm0nsense
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 5:37pm

      Yes, good thing this did not happen in China, he would have had to buy a herd of cattle too.

      Report Post » c0mm0nsense  
  • Moozmom
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 8:09am

    He could also have turned in a claim on his household insurance; The landfill search was more romantic, though. (stinky, but romantic)

    Report Post »  
  • 4xeverything
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 6:34am

    That’s a good man.

    Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • ZaphodsPlanet
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 2:07am

    BTW…. what a dumb ass. If wife hands you the ring to hold.. put it on your damn pinky and rotate it stones inside…. if it’s too small to squeeze on the end of your pinky you set it in a very safe place….you sure as hell don’t accidentally drop it in the trash can unless you are a totally negligent dumb ass.

    She better keep a close eye on their baby that’s on the way…. and don’t let him get near the baby and a laundry room, dishwasher or lawn mower. He’s liable to go…. Honey… where’s the baby?

    Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
    • SgtB
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 11:14am

      Better yet, tell your wife that the ring is her responsibility and to get her lazy arse off the couch and put it in the jewelry box because in case she didn’t notice, you have trash in your hands and your going to throw it away.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • marksar
    Posted on November 13, 2011 at 1:58am

    If you lose something just ask Saint Anthony to help you find it. Believe that He will help you find it. Saint Anthony will help you. It really works. God Bless.

    Report Post »  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 5:01am

      I really hate to inform you of this but Saint Anthony but I’m afraid Saint Anthony has been dead for 780 years. That is unless God has been lying to us for several thousand years.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • angelcat
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 7:51am

      I find that praying to St. Anthony helps me every time. I have told friends who are not Catholic about him and they have come back to tell me of finding objects they thought were gone forever. No one is forcing anyone else to believe, but no one can convince me not too. I have too much proof in my own life and that of others. Since our belief hurts no one, I find no reason anyone else has to be nasty or critical about it except perhaps jealousy of the failth of others.

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 11:07am

      I think we see the reason for problems we are facing in America – Lose something – pray to St. Anthony – need Money – pray to the Saint of Hope and Change St. Obama. The Bible warns us of placing false Gods before him. If you want to idolize and vote for Obama on the promise that he is going to give you money, that‘s your choice and if Obama wants to give you his money that’s fine too – the only problem I have is that it is not Obama money he is promising.

      I suggest that if you are praying to anyone besides the God of the Bible – stop it, and dust off that giant bible on your coffee table – open it and start reading it – it will teach you how to pray and who to pray to. You don’t need any rituals or smoke to pray – just a belief in Jesus. He will open a way where there seems to be no way and you can pray right to the source without having to go through Mary, St. Joseph or St. Obama – God answers prayers – Obama is not the answer.

      Report Post » db321  
    • SgtB
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 11:18am

      I have always found that I find lost items in the last place I look. I don’t pray, I just look until I find the item. Most recently it was a stud finder. It took me a couple hours and I even had to move stuff around, but I found it. Had I have stopped to pray about it I feel that I would have forgotten where I already looked and it would have cost me valuable time that I could have used looking.

      Remember, God helps those who help themselves. If you want something found, LOOK FOR IT!

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • bry
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 1:46pm

      I am happy you found your stud and hope you will be happy together. Maybe stud can explain that if you keep looking for something after it is found, you are lost.

      I lost an opal ring a few years ago, I miss that very pretty ring. Just said a prayer to St. Anthony!

      Report Post » bry  
    • ME
      Posted on November 14, 2011 at 10:40am

      I find a quick prayer to Satan works great. Hay don’t knock it till you tried it :) Don’t you dare criticizes you Bigots. I have a right to be wrong and you are wrong to point it out to me.

      Sarcasm for you bright ones out there!!!

      And a who cares story, the but the comments are at least worth reading for comic effect if nothing else:)

      Report Post » ME  
  • BonnieBlueFlag
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:34pm

    He found it after only 30 minutes of sifting????? That strains credulity.

    Report Post » BonnieBlueFlag  
    • ZaphodsPlanet
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 2:01am

      90 minutes…. another blazing typo from your friendly dyslexic writers at The Blaze….

      Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
  • Glenn in Virginia
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:07pm

    I have a little bit of an idea how he felt. I was at WalMart today, buying groceries, and, when the time came to swipe my card, I couldn’t find my debit card and had to use a credit card.

    I was in a total panic, because I had just had it in my hand.

    Fortunately, I discovered, after I walked out the door, having paid with a credit card, that I had dropped it into the plastic bag (yes, I use plastic, not paper,) with the eggs and bread!

    Knowing what a sigh of relief I had over what was a relatively minor problem that would’ve been solved in a matter of minutes, I REALLY empathize with that man! God bless, buddy!

    Report Post »  
  • Smallgrpguy
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:07pm

    I accidentally knocked my ring into the bedside trash can and was about to retrieve it but suddenly received an important call that distracted me. Remembering a day later, my wife unknowingly threw threw the trash out and when I told her my ring was in it, went immediately to the dump to retrieve it unsuccessfully. There is a love that would travel to the dump! You won’t see these stories on Jerry Springer

    Report Post »  
  • godhatesacoward
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 11:03pm

    More than likely a transfer station. If he knew what truck it was on, he had a very good chance of spotting his trash. Nearly100% of “trash” goes to a transfer station, dumped on a HUGE concrete slab! The boys at the “dump” then decide which container said trash should be deposited, then it is trucked to a landfill. Still, the transfer station is a f’n nasty place. Beware the “Dump Sludge & get there before I do!” I throw away organic matter because the company that used to pick up my carci(sp) will not not do it anymore because the odd hook will destroy thier equipment! Rotting fish has no comparison to what us humans throw into the trash! It’s really is a nasty place. I give this dude props for digging through absoulte filth for his(wife) investment!

    Report Post » godhatesacoward  
  • nobull14
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:26pm

    she just keep it when she sick of you in 5 years !!!! and divorces you?

    Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:25pm

    “…and toothbrushes were used.”

    What he do, have a snack while he was looking?? But seriously, glad he found it. I guess it beats spending a couple of weeks in the dog house.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • ItTakesFaith
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:58pm

    Good luck getting your wifey to wear it once found…! Nine tons of nastiness coating your symbol of love… there has to be a moral to this story that hasn’t been discovered.
    —
    Note to The Blaze: Follow this couple. What are the odds their marriage surviving the next 10-years?

    Report Post » ItTakesFaith  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:08pm

      What I find AMAZING about the story is that the landfill actually ALLOWED the man to look for it…if it were my luck, they‘d say that I couldn’t sort through the trash because they were afraid of their “liability” should something happen to me! ha ha ha THEN, of course, the workers at the landfill would sort day and night till THEY recovered it and they’d never let me know! Sorry…just acting a little pessimistic! (but realistic)!!!!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Quagaar Warrior
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 3:12am

      ITTAKESFAITH – I would wear that ring proudly, knowing that my husband cared enough about how I felt to try to do something about it.
      How about honoring the man for admitting a mistake and trying to make it right?

      Report Post »  
  • Zoe
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:53pm

    I believe he found it…..

    But then, I also think he went back to the jeweler….

    Report Post » Zoe  
    • Hobbs57
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 10:34pm

      Yeah, I think your right ZOE. Something about this whole picture just isn’t right. It seems like she knows as well. Far to many details involved, not enough emotion.I highly doubt the dump is going to let you go in and start looking around with out signing a liability paper.

      Report Post » Hobbs57  
  • chips1
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:08pm

    Once it’s lost, it’s lost. Now that you found it, Obama will tax it as income.

    Report Post »  
  • aggiebrewer
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:35pm

    I smell a rat. Either this is a stunt to get your face on TV or this guy thought he could tell his wife he threw away her ring and then sell it or some such. There is no freaking way he found a ring in 9 tons of landfill garbage and in 30 minutes. No way.

    Report Post »  
    • william.wadsworth
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:45pm

      Please present evidence before you say that something that casts doubt on someone’s integrity.

      Report Post »  
    • Ghandi was a Republican
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:44pm

      The video actually says 90 min. There are way s to zero in such as where the truck was dumped, finding addresses on labels and of course your type bags when you close in. What’s more improbable is someone with the determination to commit to funding it there.. For $10 grand and a crying wifey the odds go up~!

      Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
    • ZaphodsPlanet
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 2:00am

      Dude…. watch the video… it was 90 minutes. Still amazed he found it.

      Report Post » ZaphodsPlanet  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:31pm

    Fear is a powerful motivator!! Very glad he managed to find it!

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:39pm

      I can imagine the wife saying “You find it or I am cutting you off!

      Report Post » Stoic one  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:07pm

      I think she said that she would cut “it” off! LOL

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:08pm

      82nd — indeed, the only thing a marine may fear worse than his general or God is his wife.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on November 12, 2011 at 9:56pm

      My husband had called me and told me about this. He said some guy had
      made him look bad. I asked what he was talking about and he told me this
      story. He has gone thru the garbage and found my contact lenses, gold ear
      rings, gold necklace, money and lord only knows what else. We were renavating
      a house and they had a “Dump” dug out in the ground with a months worth of
      garbage and building refuse he went out with a flash light and went thru that
      and found my gold necklace he had bought me when we were in Hawaii.We
      actually stay a week behind with our garbage pick-up on purpose because so
      many things end up in the trash.I usually realize I am missing it before the week
      is out so I am safe and he doesn’t have to go to the real “Dump”.lol

      You would think this would only happen once and you would be careful not to
      ever do it again. But it is a running joke in my family because it happens so often.
      I would say it has happened to me more than 20 times.I have gotten the bags and
      gone thru them too. But at least it is only our garbage. lol Well the one in the
      neighbor hood for the renavation wasn’t. He said he wasn’t sure he could have
      done what this guy did but finally said he guesses he would have.I have actually
      thrown deposits for the bank away. But found them because we had saved that
      weeks garbage out from pick-up..I am really not ditzy but this seems to be a
      problem with me. ha ha

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on November 13, 2011 at 7:57am

      LoL :)

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • scout n ambush
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:30pm

    A little on the trashy side but at least the ring was the only thing that got dumped.

    Report Post » scout n ambush  
  • 1casawizard
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:25pm

    That’s a marriage made in heaven. Good job McGuinn,

    Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • Walkabout
    Posted on November 12, 2011 at 8:23pm

    Someone is getting lucky tonight.

    Or not (until the smell wears off).

    Report Post »  

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