Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders

Tungsten Wedding Ring Lost In The Old Orchard Beach Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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⏱️ 45 MINUTES TO VICTORY: From a Panicked Call to a Found Ring in the Rain! 🤝🎉

“Hi, my name is Ryan. I just found your services online. I’m vacationing at Old Orchard Beach, Maine and I was playing a game of volleyball. I actually lost my wedding ring… I wasn’t sure if you guys would be able to help me out. My phone number is 603-***-****. All right. Thank you for your time.” 📞

I immediately called Ryan back.

He told me that he and his family had just arrived in Old Orchard Beach, Maine about an hour earlier. Even though it was getting dark and raining lightly, Ryan’s children really wanted to go see the beach and ocean. 🌧️🌊

Ryan and his wife said, “Why not? We’re on vacation.” 🏖️

The family left for the beach. They walked into the square and entered the sand right next to the carousel at Palace Playland, across from the Old Orchard Beach And Pier. Once on the beach, they took a hard right toward the volleyball courts next to Brunswick Hotel and Condominiums . 🎡🎪

While playing volleyball, Ryan felt his wedding ring slipping off. He didn’t see where it landed, but he knew it was very close to where he had been serving the ball. The family started searching, but the ring was gone—buried in the sand, out of sight. 🏐⏳

Ryan asked if I could help him, and of course, I said yes.

He told me they were in town for multiple days and asked if I could come down in the morning.

Now, my first thought was to go down early around 5:00 AM. The weather forecast was for rain all night into Tuesday morning. However, I wasn’t sure if the town’s beach cleaning machine—the Surf Rake—would be going out. 🚜🌧️

The beach rake could actually scoop the ring up and throw it into the hopper, and it would be lost forever. If the rake didn’t scoop it, it could certainly move it down the beach and way out of the search area. Both scenarios make me cringe. 😬❌

I told Ryan that I don’t like taking chances like that. I needed to search tonight, before the beach rake came out in the morning. Even though it was now dark and raining, it would still be dark and raining at 5:00 AM. Either way, I would need a raincoat. 🧥

Ryan and I agreed to meet at the volleyball court in 20 to 30 minutes. I just needed to get my equipment loaded up and drive down there. With all the gear packed, there was only one thing left to do:

“CHERYL, HAVE YOU SEEN MY RAINCOAT?” 🗣️🧥

Once I arrived, I walked the beach from The Brunswick for a couple hundred yards to the first volleyball court closer to Palace Playland. As I was walking, I could see a figure in the distance with a flashlight. 🔦

Arriving at the volleyball court, I could see Ryan still searching the sand with his phone’s flashlight. 📱

Ryan showed me where he had been serving the ball and where he had run up to the net when he felt his tungsten wedding ring coming off. The search area was very small, unless the ring had gone flying into the dune grass or outside the playing area of the court. 🌾

I told Ryan I would search east to west, pole to pole, from the net back to where he had served from. If I didn’t find it on this side, I would search the other side the exact same way. If I didn’t find it then, I would start searching outside of the volleyball court entirely. 🧭

The area he had served from was only halfway back on the court. I knew it would only take me 6 to 8 minutes to search this area. Since we were already at mid-net, I started my search there, heading west toward the amusement rides. 🎢

The beach and volleyball court were very clean and void of any targets at all when I arrived. I swung just past where Ryan had served from. Not one target at all. Very unusual! 🧐

I then walked back to the net to search the area I hadn’t checked yet. If the ring wasn’t found here, I would start on the other side of the net. 🔍

Within 30 seconds of searching the area under the net, I received my first target. It was a scratchy tone, and I wasn’t confident it was the wedding ring. But I needed to do my due diligence and check it out. 🎧🔊

As I located the target with my pinpointer, I removed the sand by sweeping the pinpointer across it. Then:
“THAT’S IT! THAT’S MY RING!!!” 🤩💍

Ryan had seen the ring appear in the dark and in the sand before I did!

The excitement of my clients seeing their lost ring again never, ever gets old. Now Ryan could enjoy his family vacation without having to worry about finding his ring. 🎉🥳

From the time he called me to finding the ring was only about 45 minutes. Time is of the essence, and Ryan knew that. He called me as soon as he knew he and his family weren’t going to find it on their own. ⏱️👏

After a high five and a handshake, Ryan and I took a few photos on the wet, dark beach. Ryan thanked me again and again for coming out on such short notice and in those conditions. 📸🤝

No worries—it’s what we do.

If the situation were different, I may have waited until the morning. But I just didn’t want to take a chance with that beach cleaning machine. 🚜🙅‍♂️

Remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️

I have the best job in the world. I love my job. 🤙🪙

📲 NEED HELP FINDING A LOST VALUABLE?
Have you or someone you know lost a ring, keys, or jewelry in the sand or surf? Don’t wait for the beach rake to bury it! Time is of the essence! ⏱️❌
📞 Call The Ring Finders of Maine ASAP and ask for Dennis: 207-423-3027

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Sand At Camp Ellis Beach, Saco, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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⏱️ 5 HOURS, 10 INCHES DEEP: A Bachelor Party Saved at Camp Ellis! 🌊💍🎉

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery And Return #228

After finishing up with a platinum wedding ring recovery at Ogunquit Beach , I saw a text on my phone. 📱

Here is the text:
“Hello, we have a lost wedding ring at 39 ***** ***** ****, Saco at the beach. Wondering if you were available to check the area today as the tide comes down?”

I replied:
“Hi, this is Dennis Boothby of The Ring Finders of Maine. I just got your message. I am just coming up off the beach in Ogunquit. I just found somebody’s wedding band down here. If you could give me a call, I have a hands-free phone but I can’t keep texting. I would appreciate it. Again, Dennis Boothby, The Ring Finders of Maine 207-423-3027. Thank you.”

I then received a call from Rory. 📞

Rory told me that at approximately 2:00 PM, he went swimming at Camp Ellis in Saco, Maine . The tide was high, and when he got out of the water, his wedding ring was gone.

Rory told me that the area was very small, as he had basically gone into the water and right back out. He knew the exact area. Rory and a bunch of his friends were in town for a bachelor party weekend, and a few of them had gone into the water also. They all agreed on the area. Ok then!!! 🏖️🍻

I told Rory I had just started leaving Ogunquit, Maine and, depending on the traffic, I could be there in 45 minutes to an hour. Rory told me to call when I arrived, and he would come right out and show me the area. So, Cheryl and I were now heading to Camp Ellis. 🚗💨

Once I arrived, I called Rory.

He came right out with a few of his friends, and they took Cheryl and me through the waterfront house and down onto the beach. 🏠🌊

There were a few local residents on the beach who had helped look for the ring, but as we all know, once in the water, gold will sink below the sand and will not be visible. The ring was not found.

The Saco residents told me that when Rory lost the ring, they told him to call me and gave him my contact information. Thank you for the referral!!! 🙏📣

Rory and his friends had even marked an area where they thought the ring would be. I asked if it could be as high as the towel line and as low as where the receding tide was now situated. They agreed it could be.

I always like to overshoot an area when I perform a grid search. The client may be off a few feet, or the tide and waves may have moved it a bit before the ring settled under the sand. 📈🌊

I decided to start up high on the beach’s banking and work my way down toward the receding water. As in Ogunquit, I would be performing a North-South grid search. 🧭

I also took a gold test ring, covered it with the wet beach sand, and let everyone hear what the ring would sound like when I swung my metal detector’s coil over the test ring. I then told them that the gold wedding ring shouldn’t be more than 2 to 3 inches deep—4 inches at the most. 🎧🔊

Once I started searching, I wasn’t receiving any non-ferrous targets other than one small pull tab. Every other target was ferrous, possibly from all the houses along the shore that had been damaged and or lost during storms. 🏚️💥

I was approximately half to three-quarters done searching the area when I received a nice, loud mid-tone with a TID (Target Identification) reading of 47 on my Minelab Manticore’s VDI (Visual Display Indicator). My metal detector was also telling me it was about 8 inches deep on the depth meter. 🧐👀

Now, men’s gold rings usually have a TID in the 20s and 30s and, with the tide receding, shouldn’t be more than a few inches deep, as I had mentioned.

I told Rory that I didn’t think it was his ring, but I would mark the spot and investigate it once I finished searching if the ring hadn’t been found by that time. I only had maybe 5 to 8 minutes more of searching left. ⏳

As I finished that grid pass, I turned and headed south again, parallel with the water. Because I overlap my swings to make sure I don’t miss any areas, I came back to the spot I had just marked with the 47 TID.

When I heard the loud target for the second time, I decided to just check it out right then and not wait! 🔍🛠️

As I dug with my hand scoop, I wasn’t finding the target. It was still in the hole. I dug 4 or 5 scoops when all of a sudden, I heard Rory scream:

“THAT’S IT, RIGHT THERE!” 🤩🙌

I looked down into the hole and couldn’t believe what I was seeing at the bottom of that 8- to 10-inch-deep hole. A gold ring. Rory’s gold wedding ring! 💍✨

Everyone in the group was hootin’ and hollerin’ with joy! Rory fell to the ground after removing the ring from the hole, a joyous smile across his face. 🥳🎉

The smiles, high fives, hugs, and handshakes started amongst everyone. Someone yelled out, “Rory, you going to tell your wife now?” as everyone laughed. 🗣️😂

As we stood around, I was amazed by how deep the ring had settled down into the sand in just five hours. The waves at high tide must have really pounded the sand, burying the ring.

I have found rings in the ocean days later that were only 2 to 3 inches deep after many tides had come and gone. You just never know what the ocean will do with your ring! 🌊🤷‍♂️

The bachelor party could now continue, and with another great reason to celebrate! Everyone was in a wonderful mood, and it was fun to see everyone enjoying themselves. Rory and his friends continued to thank me for the quick response. 🍻🕺

As Cheryl and I left, we could still hear the group celebrating the upcoming wedding of their friend—and, of course, the saving of Rory’s marriage (just kidding!), I meant wedding ring. 😉💍
Remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” ❤️

It was now approaching 8:00 PM. Cheryl and I had been gone for almost three hours, but we had helped get two more rings back on their owners’ fingers. We have the best job in the world. I love my job! 🤙🪙

📲 NEED HELP FINDING A LOST VALUABLE?
Have you or someone you know lost a ring, keys, or jewelry in the sand or surf? Don’t wait for the ocean to bury it! Time is critical when it comes to the water moving sand over your lost items. ⏱️❌
📞 Call The Ring Finders of Maine ASAP and ask for Dennis: 207-423-3027

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Platinum Wedding Ring Lost In Ogunquit Beach, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🔍 THE ONE-IN-A-THOUSAND SHOT! Why a beach bag beat my metal detector at Ogunquit Beach…🏖️💍

The Case of the Flying Platinum Wedding Ring! 😲💍

Late Friday afternoon, June 19th, I received a call from Gina. Her husband, Bryan, had just lost his platinum wedding ring at Ogunquit Beach.

Gina told me they knew the area and had been searching for it but couldn’t find it. I asked her if the ring had been lost on the beach or in the water.

She told me the ring had been lost on the beach, in the vicinity of where they had been sitting around, and definitely not in the water. They were just to the left of The Norseman Resort as you walked onto the beach. 🏖️

I told Gina I could leave as soon as I loaded my equipment into my vehicle and it would take me approximately an hour to get to Ogunquit Beach , depending on the traffic. I agreed to give her a call when I arrived, and she or Bryan would meet me at the Norseman and walk me to their location.

Cheryl and I loaded the vehicle up and jumped on the turnpike, heading to Ogunquit. Once we arrived, Cheryl and I were promptly met by Gina. 🚗💨

As we walked to their location, Gina told me that she and Bryan were having a “no kids” weekend getaway, with the children spending time with their grandparents. She also told me Bryan was still searching the sand but had still not found his wedding ring.

When Bryan and Gina first started searching for the ring, many people around them had recommended that they call me—including Michele, a woman whom I had recovered three rings for last summer in Ogunquit! It always makes me feel good that people think highly enough of me to refer me. 🙌

Anyways, as we approached the area, I could see Bryan on his hands and knees searching for his wedding ring.

Bryan told me that earlier in the day he had taken his platinum wedding ring off to go swimming. He had placed the wedding ring in the cupholder of his beach chair.

As the day progressed, Bryan had forgotten about his wedding ring in the cupholder. As they prepared to leave the beach, Bryan folded up the beach chair, flipped it over to carry it, and walked off the beach, heading back to their room. 😮

Within five minutes of leaving the beach, Bryan realized he wasn’t wearing his wedding ring. He and Gina rushed back to where they had been set up for the day and immediately started searching the area where Bryan had flipped the chair.

It had to be in that very small area, but the ring was nowhere to be found. ❌

If you have been following us long enough, you have heard this story more than once. Rings in cupholders are one of the two most common ways—if not THE most common way—that a ring is lost in the dry sand.

The other culprit is removing your ring to apply lotion, placing it on your lap, and forgetting it. Once you get up, the ring disappears into the sand. ⏳

Okay then, I now knew the area and I threw my own platinum wedding ring into the dry sand, watching it disappear (not a ritual that Cheryl enjoys watching!).

I then swung my metal detector’s coil over the area, and my platinum ring made that loud, low tone you would expect. Next, I took my pinpointer and located the ring in the sand.

I like performing this ritual for my clients. The demonstration allows them to “hear” what I will be listening for. Once they hear that tone, they will be listening for it right along with me. It gives them a sense of relief that the metal detector is going to work and that I know what I’m doing. 🎧✨
(You can see the focus in the photo as I got to work, with everyone watching anxiously to see if the detector would pick up a signal! 🕵️‍♂️🏖️)

The entire area that needed to be searched was maybe 15’ x 30’. (Take a look at the diagram in the photos to see exactly how the grid was laid out next to their gear! 🗺️)

I started with a North-to-South grid search. If I didn’t find it, I would then search the area again, this time performing an East-to-West grid search. This would ensure no area was left untouched.

As I started searching, there were very few targets, and the ones I was receiving were ferrous targets, when we were hoping for a low-conducting, non-ferrous target. 🧭

I covered the entire area in under 10 minutes, and the ring was not found. One thing I always do is plan my next move.

As I was searching, I was thinking that the ring could have also become stuck on the chair and been carried out of the area on the way back to their room. The ring could have fallen out anywhere along Bryan and Gina’s path off the beach.

I was also thinking that the ring could still be stuck in the chair, or possibly in the beach bag next to the chair. I just run all kinds of scenarios through my mind as I search. 🤔🧠

As I started my East-to-West search, I kept looking at the beach chair and beach bag. Nothing on my first East-to-West pass.

I then walked closer to where Bryan really thought the ring would be and resumed my search. Then, I asked Bryan and Gina if they had searched the beach bag and chair.

Bryan said, “That’s a good point.” 💡

As I was heading east toward the water, Gina and Bryan started removing towels and other beach items from the beach bag.

Cheryl and I then heard Gina say, “Oh my god, there it is! I can’t believe it. I thought I looked in there once.” 😲🎉

I walked a few feet over to the beach bag, and at the very bottom was Bryan’s platinum wedding ring.(You can see exactly what we saw in the photos—nestled right there among the beach clothes and sand! 🧺💍

Smiles were immediate and across everyone’s faces. Handshakes, hugs, and smiles were everywhere, and the mood was now joyous. 🥹❤️

WOW!!! The wedding ring must have flown out of the beach chair, landing right in the beach bag that was sitting right next to it. A one-in-a-thousand shot for sure, and a first in my ring-finding career! 🎯

It just goes to show you that you have to think outside the box. If it wasn’t in the sand, it had to be along their path to the room or among their beach items. It pays to ask a lot of questions.

(And yes, if you look closely at the photo of Bryan, his shirt says “RELAX YOU’RE IN OGUNQUIT MAINE”—a little easier to do once the ring is back where it belongs! Check out the final photo to see the beautiful “GMY to BTF” engraving inside! 😍)

Now Bryan and Gina will be able to enjoy the rest of their “no kids” getaway weekend without a lost wedding ring hanging over their heads. They were very thankful for our quick response to help them, and Cheryl and I were very happy to do it.

As you know, “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” I have the best job in the world. I love my job. 🏝️💍

📞 Lose something valuable? Don’t wait! Call or text Dennis at (207) 423-3027.

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Vintage 1960’s Cub Scouts Slide Lost In Saco Maine, Found Visually, Without A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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“Three generations of scouting history, lost in an instant—and the ultimate ‘Good Deed’ that brought a grandfather’s 1960s slide back home! 🪵🇺🇸

“On Sunday June 14th, Flag Day, I received a call, from Doug, about a lost Cub Scout Neckerchief Slide. A ceremony was held at Ferry Beach State Park , in Saco, Maine, for a local Cub Scouts Pack #350. This Cub Scout Pack services the Saco, Maine , Biddeford, Maine and Old Orchard Beach, Maine communities. The ceremony was a “Rank Up” ceremony in which the cub scouts would be “Ranking Up”, achieving the next “slide”, as they advance in age and grade (More on this later.) As the ceremony ended, all the scouts, parents and leaders were leaving, walking down a wooded trail, towards the parking lot. Doug’s son Wyatt noticed his slide was missing. Now, this was no ordinary slide. This slide was actually the slide that Wyatt’s late grandfather had received, 65+ years earlier. YIKES!!! Doug told me that the scouting troop or about 20 people had been searching for the silde for 20-30 minutes but were unable to find it. The group had ended the search and were now on their way home. Doug thinks the most likely scenerio was that the slide fell off Wyatt’s neckerchief and was then kicked into the leaves and brush along the trail. I told Doug I could be there in 15-20 mnutes but just needed to know which trail to search. Doug then told me he would turn around and meet there, showing me exactly where the trail was. Perfect!!! Always a greater chance of success, when we know the exact area, to search.

Once I arrived at Ferry Beach State Park, I saw Doug and Waytt, next to the Ranger’s booth. After a quick introduction, we retreived my equiptment out of my vehicle and Wyatt was completly enthralled with the metal detector and pinpointer. I told Waytt he was my official pinpointer person, on this search and a huge smile came across his face. As we walked to the trail, we talked about what this vintage heirloom slide meant to the family and how important it was to find it. Once we arrived on the trail, I was asking lots of questions about could it be on the beach, etc.. My last question was “When was the last time you saw the slide” We walked maybe 10 more feet and Doug says “ It was in ths area”. As Doug was motioning with his hand, drawing a circle of the area he says “I can’t believe it. There it is. How did we not see it?” Just off the trail, sitting under a small plant was Wyatt’s slide, once belonging to his grandfather. WOW!! I couldn’t have been happier for them as a hugh relief swept across us. I hadn’t even turned my metal detector on yet and it was found. Wyatt did have the pinpointer on and placed it noxt to the slide and got a thrill, when the pinpointer went “beep, beep”. We then turned on my metal detector and Wyatt had a chance to use it, sweeping of the slide and getting more “beeps”, from the brass alloy slide. Wyatt was very happy to have his slide back but I think he was happy and excited to use the metal detectors. Amazing how the mood shifts, when a succsessful search is made. The walk out of the park was much more joyful, than the walk into the park.

We have seen this more than a few times. When someone loses a cherished item, their mind may go into a tailspin of panic, stress, or anxiety. Their emotions are now total overwhelm, brain may lock up, creating a literal mental block that makes it impossible to see what is right in front of you. You can stare directly at the grass or sand for hours, but the fear of losing that memory forever blurs your vision and clouds your judgment. You are too gripped by dread to even think about food or taking a breath.
However, when the we step onto the scene, the emotions start to ease. Just having someone there who knows exactly what to do allows you to finally exhale, lowering the panic and letting you catch your breath. As your nerves settle, your head clears, and you can finally step back and think straight again. With the frantic energy gone and calm restored, the chaotic search transforms into a clear, focused effort, and that is exactly when the missing item is finally spotted. I am not saying this happed today but we have seen this situation over and over again. Just having someone there helps with the frayed nerves.

Helping a young Cub Scout recover a treasured, vintage 1960s neckerchief slide, brought me back to my own Cub and Boy Scout Days. Tracking down this irreplaceable piece of history became the ultimate “good deed for the day,” transforming a family’s deep worry into a triumphant, successful recovery. Seeing the Scout’s face light up with pure relief when the classic brass slide was safely returned made it a deeply rewarding win, perfectly honoring the spirit of both scouting and community helping hands.

So, another Cub Scout Siide back on the hankerchief. Remember, “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” I have the best job in the world. I love my job.

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Gold and Diamond Wedding Ring Lost In The Bridgton, Maine Grass, While Ring Bearer Was Walking Down The Aisle, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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🚨 WEDDING DAY RESCUE! 💍 A missing ring, a panicked wedding party, and a five-year-old ring bearer who thought he ruined the big day… but the story didn’t end there!

On Saturday evening, I received a phone call from Monica . She was at a wedding reception at the Tarry-A-While Resort in Bridgton, Maine . Her son, Mikel had just gotten married earlier that afternoon, and the celebration was in full swing on the property.
Monica told me that during the actual wedding ceremony, the five-year-old ring bearer had shown up at the altar with only one ring. He still had the groom’s wedding band, but the bride’s wedding ring was completely missing, from the ring pillow. YIKES!!!
After quite a bit of panic (and I’m told that is a massive understatement), a wedding guest kindly offered up her own wedding ring to the bride so the ceremony could proceed. 💍
Once the ceremony finished, the wedding party headed off to take photos on the property overlooking Highland Lake . While they were away, the guests jumped into action. Everyone searched the grass along the path taken by the young ring bearer. After a lengthy search, the ring was nowhere to be found, and everyone eventually headed to the reception.
Thankfully, Monica follows The Ring Finders of Maine and knew exactly who to call. Most of the wedding party was staying at the resort and would be checking out after a morning farewell breakfast. I promised Monica that I would be there bright and early at 7:00 AM to search the path, taken by the wedding party. I was praying I would find it before everyone left, after the breakfast.
Cheryl and I left Saco, Maine at approximately 5:00am and arrived at the resort just before 7:00 AM. Monica and Mikel quickly met us and took us to the ceremony site. The groom asked me not to use the name of the ring bearer, to protect his privacy.
The poor young ring bearer felt like he had ruined everyone’s day and was incredibly upset. Even though everyone consoled him and told him it was just an accident, he still felt terrible this morning. Of course, I will always abide by a family’s wishes. Accidents happen, and there is no need to make anyone feel worse!
Mikel showed me the muster area where the wedding party started their procession. It wasn’t a long walk to the altar, but it was a beautiful, thick, grassy lawn—the perfect place for a wedding ring to hide.
I was told the ring bearer had tripped and stumbled a few times on his way down the aisle. He never fell, but they knew the area between the guest chairs was of particular interest because that is where he got tripped up.
I decided to start the search at the muster area and walk the exact route of the procession, paying close attention to the aisle. I started slowly and worked my way toward the altar. I was getting quite a few signals, as expected at an old resort, but nothing to get excited about yet. I checked anything that resembled the signature of a woman’s gold ring using my pinpointer.
As the search continued, a few more members of the wedding party showed up to help with a visual search. As I headed straight down the aisle, Monica, Mikel, and a few others moved chairs out of the way for me.
Approaching the middle of the aisle, I received a very loud, repeatable low tone. I couldn’t see anything in the thick grass, so I used my pinpointer to pinpoint the target. As I parted the blades of grass, there it was: a white gold and diamond wedding ring! 💎
The moment I picked it up and everyone saw it, cheers and screams filled the air. The relief was immediate and genuine.
The wedding ring was found dead center in the grassy aisle, right where the young ring bearer had stumbled. It is truly amazing how easily a ring can stay completely hidden from the human eye in the grass like that.
After the usual high-fives, hugs, and handshakes, Mikel went to get his wife to present her with the ring. Their plan was to head back down to the altar before leaving and place the ring on her finger with everyone who was still there. First, though, they had to get to that breakfast. I bet the mood was much lighter this morning now that the ring was found! I truly hope the ring bearer feels much better now, too.
Cheryl and I never did meet the bride, but I know her day just got tenfold better.
Thankfully, Monica knew exactly who to call, and she was incredibly grateful for the quick response. As I always like to say: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.”
I have the best job in the world, and I love what I do!

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Hearing Aid Lost In Saco, Maine, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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“They cost thousands of dollars, look exactly like bark mulch, and completely disappear in thick bushes. When Patricia lost her brand-new hearing aid in her Saco, Maine Saco yard, she thought it was gone forever…”

On Thursday, June 11th, I received a call from Patricia. She was in her yard with Maddie, a good friend and my former neighbor of 28 years. I have also known Patricia through Maddie and see her fairly regularly. My wife, Cheryl, and I always see her while we are all out walking the neighborhood. Patricia lives just around the corner from me, maybe a quarter to a third of a mile away, in Saco, Maine.

Patricia told Maddie that she had lost one of her hearing aids the previous day while doing yard work. She had searched for it but just couldn’t find it on the lawn or in the hedges. Patricia now had Maddie assisting her, but they still couldn’t locate it. They were even raking the lawn and underneath the bushes, but the hearing aid remained elusive. Now that they were both hot, sweaty, and fatigued due to the humid weather, Maddie suggested that Patricia give me a call to search for it with my metal detector.

Once she called, Patricia asked me if a metal detector would even be able to find a hearing aid. I explained that it depended on the type of hearing aid and how much metal was in it. There is usually very little metal in the devices themselves, but I told her that I could check her remaining hearing aid to see if I could detect it. I knew if worst came to worst, I could use my Goldfield program. Once I arrived at Patricia’s, I could see her and Maddie still searching. Patricia had her remaining hearing aid in a small sandwich bag and placed it on the grassy lawn. As I checked it, my detector was barely picking up the target while using my All Terrain Low Conductor program with my smallest and most sensitive coil, the M8. The M8 is just an 8” elliptical coil, but it is very sensitive to small, low-conductive targets.

Once I changed the program to “Goldfield,” the hearing aid came in loud and clear. But, there are drawbacks to using this program. The Goldfield program worked because a small hearing aid contains microscopic electronic components and very thin wires that mimic the exact physical profile of a tiny gold flake or nugget. Standard metal detecting modes are tuned to find larger, highly conductive items like coins. They completely ignore tiny items with very low electrical conductivity. By contrast, the Goldfield mode forces the Manticore to use high-frequency, Multi-IQ technology and an open audio threshold. This makes the detector incredibly sensitive to minute, low-conductivity targets, allowing it to easily pick up the faint signal of the hearing aid’s internal circuitry where other programs would remain completely silent. Because Goldfield is designed for maximum sensitivity with minimal filtering, it is a very “noisy” and chatty program. If you try to use it in a park, backyard, or iron-infested old homesite, the sheer amount of trash, nails, and foil will completely overwhelm the audio. It requires a practiced ear to distinguish the smooth “zip-zip” rise of a gold target from the erratic chatter of ground noise or EMI (electromagnetic interference).

So, with the coil and program all picked out, it was time to search. Patricia told me that her hearing aid has Bluetooth GPS tracking. The hearing aid was not connecting to the Bluetooth once she moved away from the bushes and the lawn area around them. This meant the hearing aid would be in a very small area of maybe 20’ x 20’ at the most. We then tried my pinpointer on her remaining hearing aid, and the pinpointer picked it up with no problem. Even my smallest coil couldn’t penetrate the very thick bushes. After scanning the top and sides of the bushes, I came up empty.

I asked Patricia if she would like to use the pinpointer and probe the bushes with it while I searched the lawn. Patricia jumped at the opportunity. As I was searching the grass and Patricia was probing the bushes, Maddie was still visually searching. It was an all-hands-on-deck search. As I was finishing up the grass area where the Bluetooth would still connect, Patricia was on her hands and knees searching the bark mulch just below the bushes. I decided to start searching the bark mulch on the opposite end from Patricia. Once I caught up to where Patricia was searching, I went to the other side of the hedges and started searching. As I was working my way down the hedges, I heard Patricia excitedly scream out, “Dennis, I found it!” Patricia then picked the hearing aid up and showed both Maddie and myself, and the smiles and happy laughs broke out.

I was just so happy for Patricia. She has only had her hearing aids for 6 months, and if you have ever priced these things out, you know how expensive they can be. It’s just amazing how difficult it is to see them. It blended in with the bark mulch perfectly. It felt great to be able to help a friend and neighbor here in Saco. It doesn’t matter if the lost item is an engagement ring, a property marker, or a hearing aid—if it matters to you, it matters to us. We have the best job in the world. I love my job.

 

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Wallet Lost On Bryant Pond, Maine, While Skating, Found Years Later, In The Water, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I was searching a Maine pond,  with my metal detector. It was a routine outing until a target changed everything. In my scoop was a  a silt covered wallet. Upon opening it, the remarkably preserved IDs and cards suggested it had been submerged for two to four years. There was 7 coins, inside the wallet and that is what set the detector off.  Recognizing the challenge of tracking down a stranger from a distance, I immediately reached out to the community, hoping a strong connection to Arlington, Massachusetts, would yield a clue.
The major breakthrough came when I  contacted the Arlington Massachusetts Police Department, which set off a rapid and impressive chain of events. Within a mere sixteen hours, Suzanne Trunfio and her dedicated team of the Arlington PD traced the owner’s family, eventually contacting her sister. The sister confirmed that the owner had indeed been ice skating on that very Maine pond a few winters ago when the wallet vanished into the snow, on the pond. Even though the young woman had since moved away from Arlington to attend school, the department’s swift detective work easily bridged the geographic gap.
The search reached a heartwarming conclusion when Officer Trunfio emailed me with the owner’s updated address in Salem, Massachusetts. The department expressed deep gratitude for my efforts with The Ring Finders , praising the work we do to return lost treasures to their rightful owners. Thanks to the seamless cooperation between my metal detecting efforts and an exemplary police department, this long-lost wallet is finally on its way back home. Remember, “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” I have the best job in the world and I love my job.
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Gold and Diamond Pendant Lost In The Scarborough Maine Beach Sand, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Thursday, June 3rd, I received a phone call at approximately 1:30 PM. John was in desperate need of my services after his necklace had broken.

He and a group of friends were enjoying their day at Ferry Beach, Scarborough, ME, when the chain snapped and his Gold and Diamond pendant vanished into the sand. John and his friends had already spent 45 frantic minutes searching the area around their setup, but unfortunately, the diamond pendant was nowhere to be found.
I told John I would be there in 30-40 minutes, depending on Route 1 traffic, through Saco, Maine and the Town of Scarborough, Maine. He mentioned he had a pretty good idea of where it dropped—about a 10’ x 10’ area. A small space like that should be quick… if the pendant was actually there!
Cheryl and I left as soon as I gathered up my equipment, and Cheryl loaded up her beach chair. If this recovery turned out to be a long one, she was going to enjoy the beautiful afternoon on the beach! 🏖️
Once we arrived, John met us in the parking lot. He and his friends were set up at an area of the beach known as “The Point.” I knew “The Point” well—I actually recovered an engagement ring for a client there a few years back!
After a short 5-10 minute walk from the parking lot, we arrived at the group’s location. John and a few friends pointed to an area between a backpack and a sign. A couple of other friends thought it was closer to the beach towels.
As you all know by now, I do not like to jump around while performing a search. I strictly grid search from Point A to Point B. Because of that, I decided to start at the towels and work my way toward the backpack and sign so I wouldn’t have to double back.
Just before swinging, I placed a small gold ring in the sand to calibrate my metal detector and let the client see and hear exactly what tone I was looking for. Calibration finished, it was time to hunt.
I had taken exactly 8 steps when I heard it—the unmistakable low tone of gold.
Could this really be the pendant after just 18 seconds of searching? 🤔
As I probed the warm sand with my pinpointer, I found the target. The moment the group saw it, screams of “Oh my God!” and “That was so fast!” rang out across the beach. Arms went into the air and applause broke out.
Relief, happiness, and big smiles—it never gets old. Always a feel-good moment!
So, even though Cheryl never even got the chance to set up her beach chair, I consider a fast recovery a great day. Another precious pendant is right back where it belongs. We truly have the best job in the world, and I love what I do!
Remember: “If it matters to you, it matters to us.” 💍

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Gold Wedding Ring Lost In Cape Elizabeth, Maine Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday, May 26th, I received the following voicemail,
Hi, my name is Missy D******. Um, I have a ring that needs locating. If you’re available, Um, it is a men’s, um, pretty heavy gold wedding band that was lost on Sunday afternoon. I know the general area where it may be. And yesterday we looked ourselves with the metal detector, but we only found like keys and nails. Um, so we’re hoping you might have some better luck. Uh, we are at ** ******* in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Um, and the phone number is 410-***-****. hoping you can help us out. Um, looking forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you. Bye.
I called Missy back and she told me that just a few days earlier, she and her husband Joe, had been doing yard work, on their property. Joe had been raking leaves, pulling dead vegetation and picking up downed branches, from the winter. Joe would then take those items, load up his John Deere Gator, and drive them to the composting area and dump the contents. At the end of the day, around 6-7pm, Joe noticed his wedding ring was no longer on his finger. Remembering some photos that had been taken around lunchtime, Joe and Missy looked at the photos, to see if Joe had his wedding ring on, at that time. Sure enough, at approximately 11:45am, there is a photo of Joe with his wedding ring ON his finger. Now, just 6 or so hours later, it was gone. After asking Missy many questions, Missy to me that Joe’s parents live next-door and at one point went over there and was inside their house. Joe had also gone inside his house and played with his 2 1/2 year old daughter, Imogen. Other than that, Joe had been outside for hours and hours, cleaning up their property. I told Missy I could search first thing in the morning. Missy would show me the areas Joe had been working in most and I would go from there. Joe and Missy had already borrowed a metal detector and had searched the most likely areas, the previous day, with finding the ring.
Once I arrived, I wasn’t prepared as to how big of an area needed to be searched. The most likely spots the ring would have come off, was around the house, where Joe had been collecting leaves and the other vegetation. Rings, typically don’t just fall off your finger. You are usually doing something like picking up all the items Joe had picked up. Joe was also tossing those items, into the Gator and there was a good chance his ring had come off around the house or dumped out back, near the composting area. Missy showed me the area around the house Joe had been working and the composting area. She and Joe really thought it would be in the composting area, among the branches or leaves and I wasn’t going to argue. It is definitely and area the ring could be hiding. I decided to start my search down in the composting area, since I was already there. The area had multiple areas where I could see where leaves, branches, grass clippings and food had been dumped. Not all were recently dumped and I decided to check all the areas. The area had already been searched with a metal detector, by Joe and just like Joe, I came up empty handed. I then decided to search the areas around thee house, where Joe had been picking up all the yard debris and was throwing it into the John Deere Gator. Again, I came up unsuccessful, in locating the Wedding Ring. I then started searching the entire property between the man made pond and the house. This is some of the area that Joe would have driven the Gator, to and from his work area, to his dump area. I really wasn’t confident the ring was going to be found, in this area. It’s not an area Joe had been working in but only traveling through. But, in searches like this, you need to be thorough , just in case. The yard was full of metal an I mean full. There seemed to be wiring, pipes and other assorted metal. I would find out later that in fact there was metal, buried all over the property, from years of different kinds of projects. This slowed me down immensely and I was able to search about 1/2 the yard, when I decided to call it a day. I had now been here a little over 3 hours and I would like to return to finish searching but would also like to have Joe there with me and point out the exact areas, he had been. I also wanted to break down some of the piles of leaves, branches and any other piles that could be hiding the wedding ring. Since the area was much larger than I anticipated, I also wanted to bring Gary Hill with me so that not only could we recheck areas already searched, we would search the remainder of the lawn and around his parents property. I let Missy know of my plan and she told me Joe would be home all weekend and he absolutely could help by breaking down the piles of debris. We decided that this up coming Sunday would be the day to resume the search.
So on Sunday, May 31st, Gary and I arrived nice and early, at 7:30am. Joe came right out to meet up and walked up around the property. Joe told us he remembered that he had also thrown some branches and brush, into a marshy area, behind one of yhe piles dumped leaves and branches. Awesome, a new area to search. Joe had to get back up to the house and do somethig, so Gary and I started searching the new area that Joe had thrown some branches. After searching the very wet area, the ring remained elusive. I started breaking down a pile of leaves, to flatten it out. The piles were deep of fresh and old leaves. I also threw a bunch of branches out into the marshy area, to get them out of the way. Gary would start searching some of the other piles. After 30-45 minutes, Joe returned with a rake and saw the one pile I had broken down didn’t need to be broken down any further. Joe thought for sure the ring would have been in that pile of leaves and branches. Joe then took us up to the area around the house and showed us where he was standing, when the photo, showing his ring at noonish, had been taken. Gary and I searched the area again. I had searched it a few days earlier and Joe had searched it almost a week ago. Still no wedding ring. I asked Gary to search the area of Joe’s Parents property, that Joe had traversed across. I would pick up where I had left off, in my previous search. With Joe still walking along with us, visually searching, I told him that Gary and I were out of options. I wanted to check the piles of leaves one more ime before we finished. This time I started on the pile to the far right. I was a large pile of leaves that had been searched with a metal detector by Joe, myself and Gary. As I was finishing up the area, Joe asked if he should level the pile down even more, since it was still a large pile. I told him to go for it and I would be back in a few minutes, after I searched the next pile of leaves. Just about 3 minutes later, I hear Gary yelling, Dennis, Dennis, I got it. WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I rushed over to where Gary was and he to Joe and I that he has a solid low tone, ringing up as a 34 on his TID. Definitely in the gold range. Gary said he saw just a glimpse of gold when he heard the target but the object had disappeared back in the pile of leaves. As Joe and I stood there watching Gary, Missy and Imogen heard the commotion and were comng across the lawn. I moved up to the pile as Gary was probing the pile with his pinpointer. We then heard the pinpointer go of and Gary started removind a few leaves at a time, so as to not move the target once again. Finally, a white gold ring appeared. After almost another 3 hours of two of us searching, Joe’s Weddind Ring had been found, by Gary. Just crazy that this pile of leaves had been searched 4-5 times but until Joe was breaking it down, the ring had stayed hidden. Joe di tell us that a week ago he had moved some of thee leaves and may have pushed the ring either deeper into the leaves or to the back side and only now reappeared as he was breaking the pile down further. To Gary and I, it didn’t matter. The ring had been found. We left the ring where it was found and let Imogen “find” the ring and give it to “Daddy”. A very sweet moment, captured on video. Everyone was in disbelief that after maybe 11-12 man hours of searching a very large property, Joe had his wedding ring back, thanks to our newest ring finder, Imogen.
So, Gary and I don’t like giving up and continued to searh and it paid off. With Imogen, Joe and Missy’s help, another ring was back on the finger. A true team effort. “We have the best job in the world. I love my job. If it matters to you, it matters to us.”
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Diamond Engagement Ring Lost In Freeport, Maine Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Late Tuesday, May 26th, I received the following voicemail.

“Hi there, my name is Hillary S***. I found you from Facebook. I lost my diamond wedding ring. Uh this morning. And um, I’ve been searching for it and I’m having no luck. I live in Freeport, Maine and I’m wondering if you are around and could maybe help me find it. I’m hoping for a miracle. Um, I basically put it in my pocket. I was heading out the door and, um, put it in my pocket on my way to drop my kids off at school. So there’s a couple of locations here in FreeportME where I’ve already asked permission if I could bring somebody over to do a metal detector kind of thing. So one place would be just the Freeport Montessori School , which is right in front of the Town of Freeport Library here. Um, and also through the trees, which these 2 places are like within 30 seconds of my house and then my own driveway. So it’s about a 2 minute drive to each of these locations from each other. Um, and in fact, through the trees, they have a metal detector. So this like teenage boy has been over there. trying to help locate it, um, But so far no success. I’ve searched through my car, thinking it fell out of my pocket while I was driving. But anyways, if somebody could give me a call back, uh, my phone number is area code 607-***-***. That’s 607-***-*** and again, my name is Hillary. Um, and I’ll be around all week. So if somebody’s able to come, it would be great to talk about what you charge and how it works and figure it’s better than nothing. All right, thanks so much. Bye- bye.”

I called Hilary as soon as I saw the voicemail. Hilary was very upset and told me that she has been wearing this engagement for 16 years and wanted to do everything possible to locate it. Hilary is also 8 months pregnant and this morning her wedding and engagement rings were not going on her finger because they were so swollen. She had taken them off, the previous evening because the were so tight, on her finger. Hilary has two children that she needed to get them to school and was a little behind. Since she couldn’t get the rings on her finger, she put them in her pocket, intending to put them on in a few minutes, when she returned home or whenever the swelling went down. Hilary also told me that she had put her keys, in the same pocket as her rings, along with her phone. Hilary and the children went out the door and each child was dropped off at their different schools, respectively. The entire trip to both schools, with getting out of the vehicle was only 15 minutes or less. Once Hilary arrived home, she reached into her pocket to try putting her rings on again and only her wedding ring was there. The engagement ring was missing. Panic set in and Hilary immediately went out side and searched her vehicle and gravel driveway. The engagement rig wasn’t found. She then went to the Montessori School school in Freeport , Maine and to the Through the Trees school where one of her children attend. This is a non profit outdoor school starting for preschoolers. The engagemet ring was not found at either location. Hilary told me that the owner of the outdoor school has a metal detector and that both the owner and his 13 year old son had been searching for her ring but have not been able to find it. At both schools, she had gotten out of her vehicle and the area at both were very small, as to where the ring could be. Hilary’s husbund had also been searching their property and vehicle, along with the two schools. I could tell Hilary was just beside herself and wanted to find this so badly. This ring represented 16 years of her and her husband’s life together, with two children and a third on the way. I told Hilary that I was already booked early the next morning but it was for a water shutoff valve, that wasn’t going anywhere and I would search for her ring first, then the valve. We agreed to meet at her house at 7:00am, bright and early. I would also see if GH would be able to help, now that I had two jobs lined up and had no idea how long each would take.
Gary and I arrived propmtly at 7:00am and Hilary showed us the area of her gravel drivway that she had parked in. Even though Hilary and her husband had visually searched the driveway, rings have a way of hiding, in the loose gravel and possibly even hidden underneath the loose gravel. The area was very small and we didn’t find the ring but did come up with a dollar or so, in coins, just under the gravel, with no digging required. As Gary and I were driving up to Freeport, we both agreed that the ring most likely came out of her pocket, when taking her keys or phone out of her pocket. Unfortunately, it didn’t fall out, in her driveway. With the possibility of the ring coming out, of her pocket, in her vehicle, I brought my Borescope, so we could check every crevice around her seat. The small camera at the end of the Borescope can get into places that the human eyes can’t get to. After a search of the vehicle, still no ring. Off to the first school, Through the Trees. The school was literally just 2-3 minutes, from her house. She had dropped her first child off here and had backed into the gravel parking lot, got out, walked across the drivway and a grassy area, to a picnic table, where she left her child, with the other students. Hilary then returned to her car and drove to the Montosorri School, just another few minutes down the road. As the three of us stood in the driveway, Gary and I went over the search areas. The gravel parking lot and the path across the grass, to the picnic table. I didn’t have high hopes of finding the ring here as the owner and his son had already searched. I asked Gary which side he wanted to search and he took the grassy path and picnic tabe as he was closer to those locations. Ok, I will take the gravel parking lot. Within 90 seconds of searching I hear Gary say, “I got it”. Both Hilary and I swung around and looked at Gary and I said to Hilary, “He found your ring”.. Hilary looked shoked and said something along the line of, “Are you sure? I don’t want to look and be disappointed”. We walked over to Gary and he asked Hilary if that was her ring. Gary hadn’t touched the ring and it still was in the grass. Hilary couldn’t see it until gary told her that it was right in front of his detector. When the ring came into focus, beneath the grass, Hilary says “Oh my God, THATS CRAZY, OH MY GOD, THATS AWESOME.” She then is just beaming ear to ear and puts her hand to her face and says “Oh you guys are the best” and let out an relieved laugh. When I asked her how she felt, she said she didn’t know what to say. I did post a very short video of Hilary seeing her ring, after Gary found it. Please check it out. She was still amazed and in disbelief. Hilary then showed the owner of the school, that her ring had been found and another mother that had just showed up and everyone was very excited, laughing and smiling. As Gary and I drove off, we could see Hilary still beaming, showing her ring and admiring it, back on her finger. So how did Hilary’s engagement ring end up there? The most likely explanation is that after dropping her child off at the picnic table, Hilary walked back towards her vehicle and removed the keys out of her pocket, causing the ring to fall out.
Another ring back on the finger, another smiling client and I’ll say it again, “We have the best job in the world. I love my job. If it matters to you, it matters to us.”😃💍❤️🙏

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