Man Finds $18K Worth of Gems, $5K in Cash…and Returns it All
- Posted on November 6, 2010 at 3:49pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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A New Jersey man made the find of a lifetime while driving around New Jersey’s Ramapo State Forest parking lot. He then made the decision of a lifetime.
Joseph Monto, 33, said he discovered a backpack filled with gems and $5,000 in cash while with his wife and 15-month-old son. Although initially shocked, he knew what he had to do: return them. He did.
The New York Post reports:
“I thought maybe someone left their wallet, and I could do them a favor and call,” said Monto, who was shocked when he found a case inside the backpack “stuffed with money and jewelry.”
“I said, ‘Oh, my God!’ ” I thought it might be a burglary,” said Monto, who took the backpack home for a closer look. He saw notebooks and papers with GPS coordinates and what looked like codes.
“I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, hopefully it doesn’t have to do with terrorists,’ ” he said.
Monto soon turned up contact information that led to the woman’s brother — and then to a grateful Rebecca Knox.
“She was like, ‘Thank goodness you found it! You restore my faith in humanity. There still are good people out there,’ ” Monto said.
The Maine woman was in New Jersey to help her parents move into a retirement community, and the $5,000 was a down payment for their new home, according to The Record newspaper .
The Record said she takes the jewelry pouch — which held a platinum watch, a pearl necklace and gifts from her husband — when she travels.
The GPS coordinates and “codes” are part of a treasure-hunt game called “geocaching” that uses the coordinates to look for hidden “treasures.”
The woman said she spent part of the day in the park and must have lost the goodies when she went to pull out her cell phone.
While Monto may not have been expecting anything in return, he was rewarded.
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Comments (56)
trukmek
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 8:59pmMaybe no God was directly involved, but the morals of one were.
Report Post »Soberness&Truth
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 7:52pmA good conscience is hard to find these days.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 7:35pmyou know, it makes me a little queasy when people thank thier gods for these good and kind acts. it just doesn’t make since. god didn’t come down from wherever to find the valuables and then returned them. the person who found them did. where’s the need to thank anyone but the finder/returner?
I once found a wallet with a sizable amount cash/credit cards/personal effects inside of it. I didn’t keep it. The thought to do so never crossed my mind. I looked up his phone # and called him, told him I had it and met him at the spot where I found it. Gave it back to him. He thanked me. We shook hands. He offered me a reward. I turned it down. We went our own ways. Happy day.
I can firmly say no dieties played any role in our exchange just as none did here.
Some people are good. Some people are not.
Report Post »Most are both depending on the circumstances.
rfpzzzzz
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:21amYou sound like you are an atheist which means you know nothing about God. So why do people like you keep talking with such certainty about things they proudly and endlessly admit they know nothing?
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 10:52ami send that question right back at ya, slick.
how do you really KNOW what happens after we die? you don’t know. its impossible to know.
Report Post »bglaidlaw
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 6:24pmIts too bad he had to return his wife and son …. but then, why were they in the knapsack to begin with? Oh how the English language is suffering.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:38pmGood man. I am happy for his children. They will learn wonderful life lessons. God wins.
Report Post »Sweet Sister
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 7:11pmGod ALWAYS wins! And sometimes, so does mankind.
Report Post »Strictlybusiness
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:58amWow…………………….God wins?????? you have NO IDEA at all whom these persons are, or where those gems or the cash came from, or where it went back to…… God may not have had ANYTHING to do with this at all. It could every dime be blood money, blood gems, etc……..
Report Post »onebigassmistakeamerica
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:29pmThank God that this gentleman found the items and not some random Obama voter. Maybe I‘m being cynical here but after all of the Obama voters I’ve met I doubt one of them would have returned all of that money.
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 6:37pmMy sister is one of the most honest people I know and with that being said, yes she voted for Obama. That does not make her a bad person just a bit misguided. She now has a lot of buyers remorse. The best part is she would have returned the property with a smile and will never vote again without doing a background check.
Report Post »Spoooooooky Dude Tony
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:29pmIts nice to see someone with such a big heart, but i can honestly say I would have kept it…well maybe at least the 5 grand lol
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:48pmReally? Don’t you believe in Karma? I sure do. If he had kept the jewels or money he would soon be experienceing some very bad luck…..his automobile would suddenly need a new transmission, his house might catch on fire, he could lose his job and eventually have to file for bankruptcy, perhaps serious illness would come to his family. He could lose anything he might have thought he had gained by keeping the lost property of another human being. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What I described is bad Karma. I am sure good Karma will come to this honest man.
Report Post »I’ll get off my soapbox now. ;)
Spoooooooky Dude Tony
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:55pmOk well lets not stand here and be all fake and pretend like you wouldn’t do the same. Get Real. We’re not all good Christians.
Report Post »Sunnyr
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:23pmPeople like this gentlemen always restore our faith in the citizens of this country. I wonder if he would like to run for Congress in the next election? His type are sorely needed.
Report Post »oldasdirt
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:14pmGood story about good people.People loose things all the time.
Report Post »Makes me think that lost somewhere is a backpack with all the libeals common sense in it.
komponist-ZAH
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 7:59pmWe should start a search party. ;-)
Report Post »Pajaken
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:13pmThank God for good people who are honest and trustworthy. This I pray is the average American. The politicians all over the country have given America a bad name by their actions and back door deals with each other for money and power. We are now electing new members from the ranks of the people and we have to keep people like Trent Lott from corrupting them when they get there. The days of earmarks is over and sweetheart deals will not be tolerated anymore. We finally got rid of some of the democrats but their are a lot more to go. I cannot believe the people in Nevada re-elected that dirt bag Harry Ried. What does that say about the people of Nevada? And Jerry Brown is as corrupt as his ads were. If they think the rest of America is going to bail out California, they are smoking the stuff they rejected on the ballot. The same with the union bailouts. They must be de-funded and the congress has the purse strings to do it. All funds must be appropriated by congress and Obama can’t do anything about it. It the one tool congress has left. I know he will try to use the backdoor to get around them but we must be vigilant and stop him. God Bless America
Report Post »tierrah
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 8:16pmSince the unions run the casinos, everyone needs to stay away from Las Vegas, etc. No visitors, no money … simple.
Report Post »kerrcarto
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:10pmI’m with EP46, How did his wife and 15 month old son fit in the backpack?
Report Post »Juan Gault
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 4:34pmCreative editing? was cute.
Report Post »IVillageIdiot
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:04pmWell of COURSE!… It’s STILL AMERICA!
Report Post »EP46
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:53pmlol
Joseph Monto, 33, said he discovered a backpack filled with gems and $5,000 in cash along with his wife and 15-month-old son
What were his wife and son doing in the backpack?
Report Post »felina g
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:10pmThat`s what I was wondering. Cozy.
Report Post »MadeInAmerica
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:13pmDrat! You beat me to it. Great story, though apparently, not great enough to make the 6 o’clock news. I wonder how many times wonderful stories like this happen and no one hears about it? Since this is a predominantly center-right country, I’d wager more often than one would guess.
Report Post »komponist-ZAH
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 8:05pmUmm, it clearly says WHILE WITH his wife and son. Although some news outfit probably does have “along with”, the Blaze does not. Sorry to rain on the parade.
Report Post »Juan Gault
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 4:33pmEp46, Thanks for the laugh.lol This story is inspiring,and the additional laugh,was just what I needed,ty
Report Post »klevalt
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:51pmVery nice to know that there are people out there who don’t expect to keep it just because it falls into their path. Amen to those with the scruples and integrity to do the right thing!
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:43pmGood to hear of good deeds
Report Post »mforce
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:40pmJoseph Monto, you are a gem among gems. God bless you pal.
Report Post »TrueBlueAmerican
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:34pmJoseph Monto you are truly a child of God and a Standup citizen. I hope that more people will see the light. My hope for you is that you will be rewarded tenfold!!!!!!!
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:30pm8/28′s Restoring Honor Rally displayed this kind of honor in so many stories that came out of it, and restored my hope that my country will survive oblahblah’s attempts to destroy us! This story is further proof!
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:34pmIt’s sp true, and I witnessed so many my self at 8-28. I felt such a great feeling that day, as if, anything could happen and we would take care of it together… Not knowing one another in any capacity, yet there was a silent agreed upon notion that we all had each other’s back no matter what.. I personally witnessed a young girl go down.. The had her pumped with water, some sugar for good measure, and up shaded her.. had he up and going in no time… Nobody had to even say anything.. WE are good people, us Americans… THat is why I am so ashamed of so many of the Lib‘s who may even do good act’s but it is for reason that are to glorify themselves.. They don’t get the whole thing, they do it so they can say the did only… It is a fine line and society and the media like to push you to feed your ego even when you are doing good just for the sake of your own soul.. They want to put you on a peda stool and make a big deal out of something of which is what you are supposed to be doing in the first place… I am not saying that about this story, I love to hear about.. I just had my own experience with this when I was on the cover of a largely published magazine… SO many reporters pushed me to try to get me to toot my horn… same with friends and others…. Hat takes away from the whole purpose of it.. Even though it is still good…
Report Post »sabrinacle
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:12pmHe sounds like a Christian man. Would love to find out his political offiliation. This guy could be the poster boy for what a “real” read (moral) American is. I hate to sound so cold about his decency, but I honestly feel like he represents sanity in a world of reletive politics. He needed the money. They were expecting a second child in March, yet he did the right thing. He even assumed it was some kind of drug thing but still did the right thing. He was wrong about that and it made the story even better!
Report Post »BeckFan1964
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:01pmNice to see a story about the good people in the world. There are many out there. Let’s see more stories about them please!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:31pmAgreed. These are the stories that renew faith in our fellow human beings and keep hope alive. God bless you, sir, and your family.
Report Post »just the facts
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:01pmGood for him and a thank you for the decency.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:00pmNobility and honesty are far from dead among the people of america, just dead among the political elites of DC and of Mr Obama.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:32pmPerfectly said.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 3:59pmHe did the right thing.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 3:57pmWay to go … good people do exist …Mr. Monto …. you are a very good man.
Report Post »Jackson
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 3:56pmI trust in God and nature that this is just the tip of Mr. Monto’s rewards! Read this one to your children.
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 4:30pmMy husband and I have gone geocaching but we make sure we don‘t take anything of value it’s to easy to lose your stuff crawling around looking for the treasure.. It’s was the right thing to do to return it and this man and his wife are truly wonderful people.. Have to add here it was also so nice of the lady who lost the stuff to give them a reward.. I am sure it was a unexpected kindness.. May this couple have the blessings they deserve for all their days..
Report Post »Robert W
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 5:13pmHe would make a lousy congressman. Thats a good thing.
Report Post »GBMBulletsSKNRD
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 6:20pmThis is a grand family. A perfect example of the goodness in our people. Thank you sir and may life bring to you and your family the very best.
Report Post »A1955Rosie
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 6:28pmNo matter what would have been the outcome on the reward…You knew it wasn’t yours and returned it. It’s the way things should be. Good job.
Report Post »watchmany2k
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 8:23pmTHIS is why America will survive whatever the progressive plans are, and whatever The FED and Soros do to their greenback paper.
Job #1 Mr. Monto Congrats for being a stand up American.
We are far richer than the paper dollars and “gems” of the world.
Report Post »WE have each OTHER.
Stone Soup anyone ?
WORKS FROM HOME
Posted on November 6, 2010 at 11:08pmYou can find jims on the internet but you can find a little cash
http://whamhost.info/
Strictlybusiness
Posted on November 7, 2010 at 2:52amThis story has HOLES in it….. It doesn’t add up at all. ….. The truth will come out. WATCH AND SEE!!! Another thing , All this goody,goody I would have given it back, blah, blah, blah is a bit much TOO ! ! ! ! COME ON GUYS AND GALS , WOW…..
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