Dennis Boothby, Author at The Ring Finders

Three Property Pins, Markers, Lost In York, Maine, Found In The Snow, With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I was contacted by Deanna, concerning finding some long lost property pins/markers, on her York, Maine property. Her neighbors had recently sold their home and Deanna would just like to find the pins, dividing the properties. Deanna has lived at her current home for 15 years and has the most recent survey prints, from just before she bought her home, 15 years earlier. Deanna told me that she herself had pulled one of the pins, out of the ground, because it was in the way of her mowing. She now regrets that decision. There are two pins, in particular, Deanna would like us to find. The first, must find pin, is along the road and approximately 380’, from a property pin, in the front of her house, next to a fence. Pin #1 isn’t vital to find, but would make this job much easier. The pin is no longer visible, so we will need to find this pin #1, in a very confined corner, then measure 380’, down the road and search for pin #2, that Deanna wants us to find. If and when we find Pin #2, we will need to measure approximately 102 feet, out into the field, and find the Pin #3, that needs to be found, for Deanna. Deanna would also like to find a 4th pin, but it wasn’t as important as pins #2 & 3. For a job this big, area wise and measurement wise, I called in Gary Hill, to assist. Gary was happy to go with me and I set a date and time with Deanna.

This morning, December 11th, 2025, Gary and I headed to York, Maine. We arrived at just before 8:00am and was promptly met by Deanna. She showed us the area and then had to head into work. Gary and I immediately got to work and went to find Pin #1, in the front of the house, along the fence. This pin was found within 1 minute and we now had a property pin, to measure from and down the road, 380’, to Property Pin #2. This is one of the must find pins, that Deanna wanted us to find. So, Gary and I retrieved the 300’ tape measure and looped it around Property Pin #1. I then walked it down the road 300’ and marked it, at that point. Gary brought the tape up to the 300’ mark and we measured out another 80’. We should now be able to locate Pin #2, in the vicinity. Using a tape measure isn’t as accurate as GPS, now used by surveyors but it will put us very close, to within a foot or so. Gary and I started searching and our first target looked promising. A definite piece of iron, ringing up in the ferrous range. As we dug it, it turned out to be a large spike, from a long, long time ago. As we continued the search, our second target was also a ferrous target and after digging it, we had found what we were looking for. Property pin #2, had been found. Deanna had given us some orange stakes, to place next to the property pins. This pin was a pipe, as was Pin #1 and we placed the orange stake, right into the pipe. This Pin #2 was within a foot of where the 380’ measurement came to. I love it when it works out like this. Now on to Property Pin #3. A must find, for Deanna. Gary and I then measured approximately 102’, into the field and Gary noticed an iron rebar rod, sticking out of the ground, at just about the area, we would be searching in. We dug around the rebar and saw that the rebar had actually been placed, inside a pipe, like the one we had just found, up near the road. This was to easy, so we searched the area, for anymore property pins, but found absolutely nothing. Fantastic!!! Property Pins #1,2 and 3 had been found. Now let’s see if Pin #4, is findable. Deanna had told me that she thought Pin #4 may be in amongst some trees. Only one way to find out, Gary and I measured the 85’ and because it is being measured, at an angle and not a straight line, from Pin #3, we had a slightly larger area, to search. Some of the area, as you got close to the trees, were difficult to search, because the hay was fairly tall and we couldn’t swing the metal detector, very well. This area also has what looks like some sort of small path, for farm equipment or ATV’s. The path area was frozen and difficult to dig. The area also was producing a lot and I mean, a lot of large ferrous targets. We were digging up large iron pieces of old farm equipment. Could these pieces of iron, be masking out, the much smaller iron Property Pin? We did find a large iron Pin but we are not sure if it is the Property Pin. It was found 4’, short of where it should have been found. Gary and I think it may have been part of a fence, at one time. We had been finding fence wire in the area, so kind of makes sense. We decided to call it a day, due to the difficult circumstances and return, in the spring, once the ground thaws, on the path and the hay will be flattened, from this winters snow. I am sure we will find Pin #4, in the spring. I sent Deanna a message about finding 3 of the four Property Pins and two of the pins, were the ones, she really wanted, to have us find. Gary and I were happy to have found the three and were really happy to be getting out of the brutal windy conditions. We now have something to look forward to, this sprig and Deanna is extremely happy to finally know where the Property Pins are.
As a side note, I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Deanna and all my clients that I may find their property pin but I cannot guarantee that the pin is in the correct location. I have no way of knowing if the pin has actually been moved, in the past, or not. Only a licensed surveyor can guarantee the pins are in the correct spot.
Another adventure with property pins and this was a first for Gary and I. We searched fo, the pins, in the snow. We had never done that before and we were actually surprised at how much fun it was. Ok, not that much fun! Thankfully, not all of the ground was frozen and the snow was only an inch or two deep. This up coming spring, Gary and I will head back to York and hopefully find Property Pin #4. Who doesn’t love helping others out. Gary and I are happy, Deanna is happy. A win, win for everyone and smiles all around. We have the best job in the world😀❤️🙏

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iPhone Cell Phone Lost In The Windham Maine Snow, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Thursday morning, December 4th, I received a phone call from Kandy. Kandy’s friend, Corey, had lost his cell phone, a few days earlier, while shoveling his driveway, during a snow storm. Corey wasn’t able to call me, because, well, he lost his phone. Kandy told me that Corey searched the areas that he had shoveled, along the driveway and up to the shed, on his Town of Windham, Maine property. Kandy and others had also searched the snow and snow banks, for Corey’s phone, without finding it. Kandy asked if I could search for the phone, with my metal detector. I told her I could absolutely search for it , but it would be in an hour or so, as Cheryl and I were in Biddeford, Maine, running errands. I told Kandy that as soon as I returned home, I would grab my metal detecting equipment and head to Windham, Maine. It was now just after 10:00am and I figured I could get to Corey’s house around 11:30am and 12:00pm. Candy said that would be great and if I needed anything, she only lived approximately 10 minutes away.
After dropping Cheryl off at home and loading my equipment up, I left for the Windham Maine Highland Lake area, arriving at 11:45am. I immediately took a photo, of the driveway and sent it to Kandy. I want to make sure I had the right property and not someone else’s. Kandy replied immediately and confirmed I had the correct property. The search area was not very large, at all. I was estimating 15-20 minutes to search the shoveled areas. I would start at the left front of the driveway, as you faced the house. I would search straight up the driveway and walkway, then turn and come down the right side of the driveway. As I started, I could see quite a few potential obstacles, in the way of large pieces of metal. While searching, large metal will mask the item, I am looking for. My metal detector cannot get within a foot or two of vehicle, lawn furniture, even houses, with aluminum siding. If the item I am looking for, is next to one of these sources of interference, I may not be able to find the item. As soon as I started, I saw a cyclone fence, lawn furniture and other metal objects. If I was unable to locate the phone, because of this metal, I would need to go back and use my pinpointer, sticking into the snow and hoping it picks up the phone. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
As I made my way along the cyclone fence, it really wasn’t interfering at all, except in the area, of the support posts, for the fence. So far, so good but still no phone. Next up was the path, to the shed and there was no interference and also no phone. I then made my way back down the path, along the house, with interference, but still no phone. I only had a 25-30 foot section of snow to search, from the corner of the house, to the mailbox. Approximately 1/2 way between the corner of the house and the mailbox, I received a very loud high tone, reading 96, on my VDI screen. I couldn’t see anything, so I continued swinging the coil, removing a little snow, from the area, with each swing. All of a sudden, I saw the side outline of something black, just like a phone. I removed a little more snow and verified that it was Corey’s phone. My first thought was, YES, I wan’t have to go back along the metal interference it’s and search manually, with the pinpointer. I then took a photo, of the phone, all covered in snow and sent it to Kandy. The entire search, from the timestamp on the photo I took and sent to Kandy, at the start of the search, to the photo I just took of the phone was just 18 minutes. Not to bad. I then called Kandy and she was so happy that Corey would be getting his phone back. Kandy arrived about 10-15 minutes and thank me again for coming out so quickly and expressed amazement that the phone was found and so fast. She told me that where I found the phone wasn’t searched throughly because Corey really thought it wasn’t lost in that area and most of the search effort was along the other areas. As you all know, if you aren’t sure where something was lost, it could be anywhere. Kandy then took a few photos of me holding the phone, as she preferred not be be all over social media. As I was leaving, Kandy was still all smiles, thanking me and was heading, into the house, to leave Corey’s phone inside. Later that afternoon, Kandy sent me a message

“Thank you again! Really appreciate you coming so quickly. Corey is very grateful that you found his phone.”

So, more smiles and another phone back up to the ear. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Car Keys and Fob Thought Lost In Scarborough, Maine Snow, Found Visually While Using AMetal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received the following message during Tuesday evenings snow storm, at approximately 10:30pm.
“Would you be available tomorrow morning to help locate a set of keys that fell into the snow near my car?”
The message was from Erika and I told her I was already booked, to search for a two rings, in the morning. One ring in Westbrook, Maine and one in South Portland, Maine. I then asked her where she was located and she replied, “Scarborough, Maine.” I then thought to my self that I could have Gary Hill, search for the wedding ring, in Westbrook and I could search for the keys, in the Town of Scarborough, Maine, while on my way to Southportland,ME, to search for a class ring, at Southern Maine Community College. According to Erika, the area she lost her key fob was very small and after searching for 2-3 hours, she just couldn’t find them in the snow. I made plans to meet Erika at 6:30am, the next morning, Wednesday December 3rd. I would be able to search for an hour or so, before I had to be in Southportland .
So, Gary headed to Westbrook, I headed to Scarborough and then on to South Portland. Gary and I had communicated that we would meet up at any, of the locations, to help each other, should the help be needed, once our respective searches were completed. I arrived at Erika’s, promptly at 6:30am and Erika was there to meet me. It was cold and the sun was just starting to rise, as Erika showed me the very small area, to be searched. I knew I could cover the entire area, in just 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately, the two vehicles were setting my metal detector off and I couldn’t get very close to the vehicles. Erika moved one of the vehicles, but couldn’t’t move hers, because she didn’t have the key fob. I searched the entire area, from the stairs, to the house and the areas around the two vehicles. No key fob found. We then took a shovel and moved all the snow, away from any metal objects, that could have been masking the key fob. Even after shoveling, still no key fob. I then decided to search the area, a second time. This time I would search North to South, rather that East to West, like the first search. Fifteen minutes later, still no key fob. I told Erika I would use my Minelab CTX-3030 metal detector, for a third search. I had been using a Minelab Manticore but decided to try my other detector, As I am getting the CTX-3030 set up and started searching, I was telling Erika that I really didn’t think the key fob was outside, in the area she thought it would be. I then started asking Erika many questions like, “Had you gone to any other area of the driveway? No, just around the cars and back and forth into the house, was her reply. “Have you checked your coat pockets and pants pockets”. Yes I have searched the many times. Did you have anything else on that hasn’t been searched, like a hoodie, gloves, or hat?” At that point, Erika said she would be right back and headed into the house. I was continuing the search, with the CTX-3030 and still wasn’t finding anything, not even a key fob. As I was working my way towards the walkway to the house, Erika came out the door and said, “You can stop searching. I have it’ WHAT? She found the key fob? As Erika approached e, she said, “When you were asking me all those questions, you jogged my memory, when you asked if I had had anything else on.” Erika went on to tell me that the previous day, while cleaning the cars off, some snow from the storm had made it’s way down the back of her coat, all over her neck and clothing. Eriks went inside to get the snow out from the inside of her coat and clothing, including a vest, she had been wearing. Once the snow had been removed, Erika went back out side to finish the snow clean up. Once finished, Erika went back inside the house and a few hours later, at 7:00pm, went to get her keys, but couldn’t find them. Thinking she must have dropped them, hours ago, out in the snow, she went outside and searched, for the key fob but couldn’t find it. She went inside and searched through her clothing, forgetting all about the vest, she had taken off, many hours earlier. When I jogged her memory, she went straight to the vest and in the inside pocket, of the vest, was a key fob. Case close!!! Since it was the only key fob available to start her car with, Erika was in panic mode and the vest completely slipped her mind. Erika was extremely relieved and could now get in her vehicle and get on with her day, with a big smile, on her face.
Gary and I ask a lot of questions, on every search. People just don’t remember everything but once we are on site and show an interest, in helping them, people relax a little and start thinking more clearly, once we start asking all those questions. So it isn’t always a metal detector that finds a lost item, sometimes it’s just a little detective work. It doesn’t matter how the lost item is found. The important thing is that the client has their item back and a smile on their face. Another key fob, back in the car and I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Platinum Class Ring Lost In Snow, Found With A Metal Detector In South Portland, Maine

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Tuesday evening I received a phone call, from Hailey and I could hear the anguish, in her voice. Approximately an hour earlier, at 9:00pm, Hailey lost her 2023 Oak Hill High School class ring. Hailey is a second year student at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), in South Portland, Maine and was sledding, on a very small hill, on campus. Hailey and her friends didn’t have anything to slide with, so they improvised some pizza boxes, into sleds. With a snowy winter storm still raging on, Hailey was enjoying the fun of sliding down the hill, with her friends. On her third or fourth trip down the hill, Hailey noticed her 2023 Platinum class ring was no longer on her finger. Hailey and her friends search the snowy hillside for an hour, without finding the ring. At this point, one of her friends suggested Hailey call The Ring Finders of Maine. I told Hailey that I could absolutely search for her ring, but not until the next morning. Because the snow storm was still fairly strong and raging on, I wasn’t going to drive out there, until the storm stopped.

The next morning I arrived at SMCC and called Hailey. Hailey told me she would be right down. I saw a father and his two young children, sledding on the hill and asked them if they had found a ring. They had not. So while waiting for Hailey, I gave the children a demonstration, on how a metal detector works. They had shown an interest, when they saw my metal detector and since I like to set up and calibrate my detector, before I search, it was a win, win. The children loved how my detector, could find metal, under the snow. As I was finishing the demonstration, Hailey arrived, from her dorm room. Hailey then showed me the area they had been sledding and it was a very small area. I was able to search the area in just 10 minutes or so. Since I had searched just half of the hill area, she had been sledding down, I told Hailey, I would expand the search area, to the other half of the hill, on the chance it flew off her finger to that area. I would at the same time, research the area, I had just covered, At the bottom of the hill, there is a parking lot and some snow had been plowed , onto the base of the hill. I asked Hailey if the snowbanks, at the bottom of the hill, had been there, the previous evening. She replied they had not. I was concerned that her class ring may have been plowed into the now fairly frozen snowbank. Hailey had to go back to her dorm room for a few minutes and as she left, I started my grid search, at the top of hill and worked my way down, towards the snowbank and parking lot. I was unable to locate the ring, on the hill. As I stood at the base of the hill, looking at the snowbank, I knew there was no way I would find the ring, deep inside the frozen snowbank. From the parking lot, I  searched the hard packed snow, leading up to the snowbank. The ring was not in the parking lot. I decided to search the snowbank as best as I could, from the parking lot side first. Almost immediately, I received a very faint low tone, reading 05, on my VDI screen and approximately 6-7 inches in the snow. The reading told me that it was definitely a low conducting, non ferrous metal, the same as Platinum. Unfortunately there are many non ferrous trash signals that could ring up in that range, including different foils. It wasn’t a great sounding target but I needed to perform due diligence and check the target out. I removed some snow and ice and then I saw a reddish or purplish colored stone, in a silver colored setting. The ring has been found. I took a few photos, of the ring, as I first saw it. I then called Hailey and as the phone was ringing, Hailey appears at the top of the hill. I asked if she could come down, to the bottom of the hill, so I could ask  her some more questions. When she made it to the bottom, I told her to look in the dug hole, in the snow and asked her “ Does that look familiar?” As Hailey looked into the hole and saw her class ring she says, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Thank you” and picks the ring up, placing it back on her finger. Hailey kept thanking me and seeing just how much this ring means to her put a big smile on my face. I then told Hailey that she shouldn’t be wearing her rings, while sledding. Hailey told me she would never wear them again, while sledding. A lesson learned for a young college student, smiles all around and another ring back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Titanium Wedding Ring Lost In Old Orchard Beach Maine, Found Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Dave, just after noon on Monday, November 24th. Dave lost his wedding ring, of 15 years, while moving a vehicle. Dave works at a local auto dealer and repair shop and has asked not to mention the establishment or use his photo, in the story. I will absolutely follow his wish. Anyways, Dave had shook his hand, approximately an hour before calling me, as he was getting into a vehicle, he had to move, in the lot. When he shook his hand, his wedding ring went rolling across the lot and was headed towards an embankment of leaves and rocks, leading down, to a small brook. Dave said the ring was rolling very slowly and thought the leaves and rocks would stop the ring, as soon as it reached the end of the pavement. So, as the ring slowly rolled towards the leaves, Dave moved the vehicle and would come back to retrieve the wedding ring, in just a minute or so. Once Dave came back for his ring, he couldn’t find it. He visually searched the leaves and rocks, along the parking lots edge. Dave could not find the ring. Dave also used an inexpensive metal detector, to search the area. Again no ring was found. This is when Dave called me and asked for help. I told Dave I would be right there in approximately 5 minutes, as I live near Saco Main Street less than two miles, from where the ring was lost.

Once I arrived, Dave showed me where he was, when the ring came off his finger and rolled towards the embankment. Dave told me he actually saw the ring rolling and was certain it would be along the edge of parking lot, in an area just 25-30 feet in length. I looked at the area and thought the ring should be right there, as it was slowly rolling and not flying off his finger. I started the detector up and took out a gold test ring and showed Dave how my detector sounds and works. Dave thought his ring was either Tungsten or Titanium but couldn’t remember. Not a problem, the detector will find it, if it is made of metal. Once the detector was set up and running, I worked my way from the east end of the parking area, to the western end of the lot. Nothing found but small pieces of foil were found. I then took a step down the embankment and headed back to the east side of the lot. Again, nothing but trash. I repeated these steps, all the way to the bottom of the embankment. I even searched the brook, at the bottom and the wedding ring still had not been found. Dave was in disbelief and flabbergasted, as was I. I then started searching the area again, only this time I was searching north and south, up and down the embankment , from the parking lot to the brook, up to the lot, back to the brook. Still nothing and at this point, I told Dave that I would switch from my 11” coil, to my 8” sniper coil. I was thinking the ring may have gotten into a crevice and the smaller coil would get into the crevice, easier than the 11” coil. I also asked Dave if he had possibly run the ring over, moving the car and moving the ring, out of the area. No way possible, I was told . The ring was almost to the embankment when he last saw it. No way the wedding ring was near the moving and or parked cars. I then asked Dave if he had looked under the parked cars and he told me that he hadn’t. I asked if he had a flashlight and if he could search under the parked cars, while I performed my third search of the embankment and brook.As I was once again searching, Dave searched under the parked cars, with the flashlight, without finding the ring. I also struck out, for the third time, on the embankment. As I stood talking with Dave, we just couldn’t comprehend how a ring rolling slowly towards the embankment, could just disappear. I told Dave that it just had to be under one of the parked cars and that the cars should be moved, while I once again, for the fourth time, search the embankment. I was also concerned that if the vehicles weren’t searched underneath and moved, the ring may be hit, the next time someone just got in the vehicle and drove off. Moving the vehicles now, in a more controlled environment would be much better. As I was searching, the vehicles were moved and the ring still wasn’t found. When I finished the fourth search, I told Dave that I would return, in the morning, with a leaf blower and blow all the leaves, from the area. But first I wanted to try a little closer to the road, although I did’t think it would have rolled that far, I had to do my due diligence and search it. Still nothing was found and as I was walking back, I heard Dave say, “Oh my God, it’s right here.” As I looked over towards him he reached down and picked up his wedding ring. He found it right where one of the cars had been parked but Dave didn’t see the ring, with the flashlight. Dave also missed seeing it, once the vehicles had been moved. It just blended in with asphalt, pine needles, etc.. It appears that the ring had done a complete 180 boomerang, from the last time Dave had seen the ring. Did the ring hit a pebble of something else and turn around? We will never know. What I do know is that after searching the embankment four times, I just knew the ring wasn’t there. It just had to be under one of the parked cars and once the vehicles were moved, there it was. So, another smile on the face and another ring, back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Seventy Year Old Wedding Ring Lost In The Rochester, New Hampshire Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Monday morning, November 17th, I received a call from Andrew. His 89 year old Grandfather, Arthur,  had lost his yellow gold wedding ring, three weeks prior, on his property, in Rochester New Hampshire. Now here’s the kicker, Arthur has been married and has been wearing this same ring for 70 years. WOW!!! I need to find this very sentimental, 70 year old wedding ring.

Arthur, although 89 years young still did work around his property and on the day he lost his wedding ring, had been throwing down bark mulch, along the flowers and plants, that ran along the house. Once Arthur had finished and was inside the house, he noticed his wedding ring, was no longer on his finger. Subsequent searches by Arthur, his daughter and Andrew, came up empty. A metal detector had also been used on the mulch beds and still no ring was found. The family’s thought was that the ring may be further down below the plastic that Arthur had put down in the flower beds, before throwing down the bark mulch. Andrew asked if I could come and give it a shot. He told me the area was very small, telling me, “ Facing the house (front) there’s two sections of mulch spread out in about a 20’x20′ area.  The mulching to the left side (while facing the house) is where he believes he lost the ring.   Let me know when you are planning on heading there and I will meet you there.” Perfect, a small area and I told Andrew that I could be there by 12 noon.

Cheryl Sargent Boothby and I left the Saco Main Street area and arrived at Andrew’s grandfathers house, in Rochester, New Hampshire, in just over an hour later. When we arrived, there was no one there. I messaged Andrew and he was on his way and would be there in approximately 15 minutes. I told him I would start searching without him. I looked at the mulch beds and knew I could search the entire area in just 10 minutes. As usual, there is a lot of metal along houses. Rebar in the concrete foundation and stairs, the bulkhead, garden lighting, etc.. I was hoping I wouldn’t get too much interference, from all this metal. As I started my search, Andrew’s mother, Arthur’s daughter arrived. I told her that I had only one target in the mulch bed, that was even remotely close to gold and it was deeper than the mulch. It was under the plastic tarp, Arthur had laid down, prior to applying the mulch. We cut the tarp open and the target was just a piece of  a small aluminum clamp. I finished the mulch beds and still no ring, when Andrew arrived. I showed him what I had found and told me that the ring, is not in the mulch bed but I would search it a second time and asked him if he would like to  use my other  metal detector and search also. Andrew was all for it and after getting the machine set up and a quick lesson for andrew, we search the mulch beds again. 5 minutes later, we finished and the same results, no ring. I then started asking Andrew many questions, “Did your grandfather work anywhere else on the property? Where were the bags of mulch placed, when he was grabbing and opening them? Had he thrown the discarded bags away”. Had he walked around the grass anywhere?”  Andrew didn’t know the answers to these questions, other than the bags of bark mulch had been just a few feet from the bulkhead. I was really concerned that the ring ended up in a discarded bag of mulch and thrown away. He could easily have lost the ring when he was reaching into the bags and grabbing mulch. Andrews mother checked the shed but the bags had already been discarded and were gone. He did lose it three weeks ago, so now the ring could be anywhere. I told Andrew we just needed to expand the search, to the lawn, around the mulch beds. We would start along the house, grid back and forth, working our way further away from the house. I was on the side of the house, near the bulkhead and Andrew was on the front left corner of the house, as you faced the house. My first pass yielded nothing. I turned, took a half step away from the house and headed back towards the bulkhead and left front corner, of the house. Just as I arrived at the bulkhead, I received the unmistakable sound of a non ferrous low conducting metal. Could it be Arthur’s gold ring, foil, aluminum pull tab, another small piece of an aluminum clamp? The detector was going off nice and loud, repeating the signal. Andrew stopped and was watching me. I looked down and it took me a second but I could see a nice round circular piece of metal, pressed into the ground and it was gold in color. It was a ring, Arthur’s ring. Andrew was still looking at me and I said, “I found it, I got the ring.” Andrew just yelled out in joy and told me, as he walked over to me, that as he was watching me, he saw my eyes get big and my face had changed into a big happy face. He knew I had something good. Andrew thanked me many times and shook my hand, saying, “You guys are the best.”. In just 30-35 minutes of searching and the mood had definitely grown happier. I always feel great to hear praise like that. Arthur’s wedding ring was pressed, into the ground, flush. It is my opinion that the ring would never have been seen, in that position. It blended right in with the surrounding grass. It appears that the ring had been stepped on, probably while Arthur was still working in the area, or while everyone was walking around searching, for the ring, 3 weeks earlier. Andrew then called his mother, who had left, to tell her the good news. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Arthur and reunite him with his 70 year old wedding ring, that he has been without, for the past 3 weeks. Arthur and his wife, are out of town, on a trip. Andrew would be calling him up and telling him the good news. So, another ring is going back on the finger and there are smiles all around. I have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

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Newlywed’s Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Portland Maine Hay, Found Visually, While Searching With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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Sunday morning, November 23rd, I received a phone call, from Chase. Chase told me that 2 days previously, on Friday, he noticed his wedding ring was missing. I asked him where he lost it and Chase said it could possibly be in two different places. The most likely area was at a new home construction, in Portland, Maine or inside a buying being totally rehabbed, also in Portland. The new home construction was where Chase thought his wedding ring was lost. He had been throwing down hay, on the new lawn and at one point, he actually felt his wedding ring slipping off and he caught it, before the ring actually left his finger. When he finished with the lawn, he drove over to the building being rehabbed and worked there for the next two hours, before he noticed his wedding ring was no longer on his finger. Chase searched the building he was currently working in but could not find the ring. He had been tearing down the walls, to the studs and throwing the debris, into a dumpster. Chase was really hoping the ring wasn’t in the dumpster, full of demo. He remembered the ring almost coming off, at the new construction and headed back there, visually searching the hay, he had thrown down. Unfortunately this search and a subsequent search, the next day resulted in disappointment. The wedding ring was not found. I told Chase I could absolutely search the hay, at the new construction site but the indoor rehab site would have to be a visual search only. There is just to much metal, inside buildings and our metal detectors, do not work well, at all. As I was the only one home watching our 8 year old Granddaughter, I told Chase I would be right out there, once my daughter got off work or my wife Cheryl returned home, from her 5 mile walk. About an hour later, Cheryl returned home and I headed to Portland.

When I arrived at the new construction, in Portland, Chase was already there, waiting inside his truck, for me. After a greeting, Chase told me the ring was new, as he had just gotten married, in October. I told him that I have had many newlywed recoveries, as the rings just don’t always fit right and the newlyweds just aren’t use to having a ring on. I was praying to myself to find this wedding ring, for Chase and his bride. We then got right down to business. Chase reexplained everything and walked me around the new construction and showed me where he had been putting the hay down, which ended up around the entire house. The area wasn’t large at all and I thought to myself that I should be able to cover the entire area, in just 30 minutes or so. I started the search, on the left front corner of the building , as you faced it and would work my way clockwise, around the building. As I started searching, I was finding quite of few pieces of construction metal, go figure. Small pieces of aluminum, copper, brass, etc.. Chase continued his visual search, for his ring, just a few feet ahead of me, occasionally coming back to see what had set my detector off. Unfortunately, I had finished the left side of the house and the backyard, with no ring being found. As I was heading down the right side of the house, I had completed approximately 2/3 of the searchable area and was starting to get nervous, as I was running out of real estate to search. As I was making my way down the right side of the house, with Chase just 10 feet or so ahead of me, I heard Chase say something to me and I looked in his direction. He was hold something up and showing me, as I asked, “Is that the ring, did you find it?’ As Chase nodded his head up and down, he said “Yes, I found it”. I walked right over to him and gave him a high 5 and congratulated him. He looked at me and said “Do you know how many times I have walked and looked at the hay, in this area, the last few days. It just blends in with the hay.” Chase and I both had big smiles and I could see the relief, on his face. He was one happy newlywed as I am sure his wife, Annie was, as he sent her a photo of the ring. I always say that once I am on scene it becomes a team effort. Clients will continue to search visually and if the area is large enough, I will bring an extra metal detector, with me, that my client may use. It doesn’t matter who finds the ring. The goal is to put the ring back on the finger. Mission accomplished. After all, Teamwork is Dreamwork.
I also told Chase and Annie that in his line of work, construction, Chase should wear his silicone ring. Working with your hands all day is just an invitation to lose the ring. It is also very possible to severely damage the ring, while building homes. Chase already is wearing his silicone ring and actually had it on, when I arrived. Better safe than sorry. I personally remove my wedding ring, whenever I go metal detecting, doing yard work or go to the beach. Again, better safe than sorry. It’s so much easier to replace an inexpensive ring, than a very sentimental ring.
So, another ring back on the finger and another smile on the face. I’ll say it again, “I have the best job in the world and there is no better feeling than to help someone get their very sentimental ring back.”
I would like to congratulate Annie and Chase, on their recent marriage Here is wishing Annie and Chase a lifetime of love and happiness 😀❤️🙏

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Seventy Year Old Gold Wedding Ring Lost In The Rochester, New Hampshire Grass, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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On Monday morning, November 17th, I received a call from Andrew. His 89 year old Grandfather, Arthur,  had lost his yellow gold wedding ring, three weeks prior, on his property, in Rochester New Hampshire. Now here’s the kicker, Arthur has been married and has been wearing this same ring for 70 years. WOW!!! I need to find this very sentimental, 70 year old wedding ring.

Arthur, although 89 years young still did work around his property and on the day he lost his wedding ring, had been throwing down bark mulch, along the flowers and plants, that ran along the house. Once Arthur had finished and was inside the house, he noticed his wedding ring, was no longer on his finger. Subsequent searches by Arthur, his daughter and Andrew, came up empty. A metal detector had also been used on the mulch beds and still no ring was found. The family’s thought was that the ring may be further down below the plastic that Arthur had put down in the flower beds, before throwing down the bark mulch. Andrew asked if I could come and give it a shot. He told me the area was very small, telling me, “ Facing the house (front) there’s two sections of mulch spread out in about a 20’x20′ area.  The mulching to the left side (while facing the house) is where he believes he lost the ring.   Let me know when you are planning on heading there and I will meet you there.” Perfect, a small area and I told Andrew that I could be there by 12 noon.

Cheryl Sargent Boothby and I left the Saco Main Street area and arrived at Andrew’s grandfathers house, in Rochester, New Hampshire, in just over an hour later. When we arrived, there was no one there. I messaged Andrew and he was on his way and would be there in approximately 15 minutes. I told him I would start searching without him. I looked at the mulch beds and knew I could search the entire area in just 10 minutes. As usual, there is a lot of metal along houses. Rebar in the concrete foundation and stairs, the bulkhead, garden lighting, etc.. I was hoping I wouldn’t get too much interference, from all this metal. As I started my search, Andrew’s mother, Arthur’s daughter arrived. I told her that I had only one target in the mulch bed, that was even remotely close to gold and it was deeper than the mulch. It was under the plastic tarp, Arthur had laid down, prior to applying the mulch. We cut the tarp open and the target was just a piece of  a small aluminum clamp. I finished the mulch beds and still no ring, when Andrew arrived. I showed him what I had found and told me that the ring, is not in the mulch bed but I would search it a second time and asked him if he would like to  use my other  metal detector and search also. Andrew was all for it and after getting the machine set up and a quick lesson for andrew, we search the mulch beds again. 5 minutes later, we finished and the same results, no ring. I then started asking Andrew many questions, “Did your grandfather work anywhere else on the property? Where were the bags of mulch placed, when he was grabbing and opening them? Had he thrown the discarded bags away”. Had he walked around the grass anywhere?”  Andrew didn’t know the answers to these questions, other than the bags of bark mulch had been just a few feet from the bulkhead. I was really concerned that the ring ended up in a discarded bag of mulch and thrown away. He could easily have lost the ring when he was reaching into the bags and grabbing mulch. Andrews mother checked the shed but the bags had already been discarded and were gone. He did lose it three weeks ago, so now the ring could be anywhere. I told Andrew we just needed to expand the search, to the lawn, around the mulch beds. We would start along the house, grid back and forth, working our way further away from the house. I was on the side of the house, near the bulkhead and Andrew was on the front left corner of the house, as you faced the house. My first pass yielded nothing. I turned, took a half step away from the house and headed back towards the bulkhead and left front corner, of the house. Just as I arrived at the bulkhead, I received the unmistakable sound of a non ferrous low conducting metal. Could it be Arthur’s gold ring, foil, aluminum pull tab, another small piece of an aluminum clamp? The detector was going off nice and loud, repeating the signal. Andrew stopped and was watching me. I looked down and it took me a second but I could see a nice round circular piece of metal, pressed into the ground and it was gold in color. It was a ring, Arthur’s ring. Andrew was still looking at me and I said, “I found it, I got the ring.” Andrew just yelled out in joy and told me, as he walked over to me, that as he was watching me, he saw my eyes get big and my face had changed into a big happy face. He knew I had something good. Andrew thanked me many times and shook my hand, saying, “You guys are the best.”. In just 30-35 minutes of searching and the mood had definitely grown happier. I always feel great to hear praise like that. Arthur’s wedding ring was pressed, into the ground, flush. It is my opinion that the ring would never have been seen, in that position. It blended right in with the surrounding grass. It appears that the ring had been stepped on, probably while Arthur was still working in the area, or while everyone was walking around searching, for the ring, 3 weeks earlier. Andrew then called his mother, who had left, to tell her the good news. Unfortunately, I was not able to meet Arthur and reunite him with his 70 year old wedding ring, that he has been without, for the past 3 weeks. Arthur and his wife, are out of town, on a trip. Andrew would be calling him up and telling him the good news. So, another ring is going back on the finger and there are smiles all around. I have the best job in the world.😀❤️🙏

 

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Gold And Diamond Engagement Ring Lost In The New Hampshire Grass and Leaves, Found With A Metal Detector

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call from Kevin, on late Thursday afternoon, November 13th. Kevin told me that a white gold engagement ring had been lost, in the backyard, of his New Hampshire home.  I then asked him how long ago the engagement ring had been lost and why did he think the ring was out in the backyard? “Did your wife see or feel the ring come off, in the backyard”? Kevin replied that “The ring was lost last night. We were having a disagreement and the ring flew out the upstairs window and into the backyard. I have looked for it but can’t find it. I even threw quarters out the window to see where they would land, but the grass is tall and leaves are everywhere”. Well, ok then. These things do happen and Gary and I have been involved in 5-6 of these, over the last few years. Gary actually found a thrown ring earlier this year. The wedding ring had been thrown into the woods, back in 1997 and the ring was found 5” in the ground. That’s right, the ring had been in the woods, lost,  for approximately 27 years. Anyways, this isn’t the first thrown ring and certainly won’t be the last. Kevin wanted to know if I would be able to search, for the ring, in the morning. I told Kevin I would definitely be there in the morning, probably around 9:00am. Kevin then asked if anyone needed  to be there, as both he and his wife would be leaving for work, while it was still dark out. I told Kevin that no-one needed to be there but asked if he could send me a photo, of the area, that needed to be searched. Kevin agreed and actually sent me two photos. One photo was of the backyard, taken from the window, that the ring was thrown out of. The second photo was taken outside , showing the upstairs window, that the ring was thrown out of. This was perfect and the area was very small. Looking at the photos, I figured I could cover the area in just 20-30 minutes, max.

So, this morning, Cheryl and I headed out to New Hampshire. We arrived at right at 9:00am. We walked out back and the first thing I noticed was just how many leaves were in the yard, mixed in with the tall grass. No wonder Kevin didn’t find the ring. I decided to start at the top of the slope, because we found a test Quarter, that Kevin had thrown out the window. As I worked my way down the slope, I wasn’t receiving any targets, at all. A very clean lawn. Once I arrived at the bottom of the slope, I was making my way southeast, when nI received a nice sounding low tone, reading as a 19, on my VDI screen. Definitely in the gold range. I couldn’t see anthill because of the thick grass and leaves. I then took my pinpointer out and started zeroing in on the target. Once I pinpointed the target, I started removing some leaves with my hand, when I saw a beautiful engagement ring, staring back at me. We had found the ring in only 5-6 minutes. Because of the circumstances, I knew the ring should be found fairly quickly but it is still a relief when you actually see the ring. Since both Kevin and his wife were not home, I took a photo and sent it to Kevin, showing the engagement ring and my business card. Kevin replied “ WOW, that was fast.” I replied “5-6 minutes, Down over the hill.” He replied “Wow, In the leaves.” Because neither Kevin or his wife were home , Kevin asked me to place the ring in the garage.  “The garage side door is open, you can leave it in a tool box drawer. Can’t miss it.” I went into the garage side door, to look for the tool box. Cheryl went to our vehicle, to find a sandwich bag, to place the ring in. I found the large tool box, with no issue. Cheryl brought the sandwich bag to me and we placed the engagement ring, the quarter and my business card, into it. I then opened one of the drawers and placed the bag under some tool,  in the back right corner, of the drawer. Now this was a little unnerving to me. I really didn’t feel right just hiding the ring, inside a garage but Kevin told me neither of them would be home until 5:00pm or so. I then asked Kevin to let us know as soon as they get home and have found the ring. I have enough stress, in my life, I don’t need to worry about an engagement ring I found and left behind. At just after 5:00pm, Kevin texted me and said, “Got it!!! Back on the finger.” Kevin then thank me again and Cheryl and I couldn’t be happier or more relieved. 

Like I have mentioned, Rings being thrown are nothing new to us and we don’t judge people for these occurrences. They happen and will continue to happen and we will continue to help find them, free of judgement. I am just so thankful that Kevin called me immediately. If the backyard had been raked, mulched, mowed, etc., who knows if the ring would have been found. Kevin did the exact correct thing he should have done. He did not disturb the area and he called us for help. After approximately 16 hours after being thrown, the ring was found and returned. Another ring is back on the finger and everyone is smiling tonight. Kevin and his wife were not home, so I was unable to get a photo with either of them. We have the best job in the world.

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

  • from Old Orchard Beach (Maine, United States)
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I received a call, from Mona, concerning a property marker/pin. She and her husband John had seen the marker/pin, years ago, when they had bought the property, in the Town of Kennebunk, Maine and only a mile or so from Kennebunkport Maine . Now however, they were unable to find the property pin, but had found the other 3 corner pins. The only missing pin was the southeast pin, that was in the front of the property, along the area of the road. Mona and John also had the distances, between the pins. I told Mona that with that much information, the property pin should be found, if it was still there. Mona had told me that the area that the pin should be in had recently had some fill brought in, to make a few parking spots, on the neighbors property. Mona was concerned the her property pin had been buried by the excess fill. We made plans to search for the pin, today, Wednesday November 12th.
I arrived a few minutes early and was getting all my equipment out of my vehicle, that included metal detectors, pinpointer, shovel, spade and a 300’ measuring tape. While getting my equipment organized, Mona came out and introduced herself. She then showed me the area of the missing pin and pointed out a stick that she and John had stuck in the ground, where they thought the pin should be, within a few feet. I started up my metal detector and immediately started searching. I received a signal within a few seconds. It was a ferrous target, which is what I was looking for. As I dug the hole, no pin was found, only an old square nail. Scanning the area provided more nails and even a 1955 Dog Tax pendant, but no property pin was found . I told Mona we should measure from the Southwest pin, that was also along the road, to the area of the missing pin, in the Southeast area , of the property. The measurement was 180.37’. Once we measured it out, the mark was about 4-5 feet short of where Mona and John thought it would be. Searching the new spot produced nothing but more nails. We then decided to measure from the northeast corner, in the back of the property, to the southeast corner. This measurement is 223.’. This measurement was 7’ short of where the pin was thought to be. How is this possible? Unfortunately, property lines, for the most part, don’t run in straight lines. There are usually angles and degrees involved. Even a measurement of 223’ at a 5 degree angle could alter the measurement by several feet, from where you think the pin should be. I started searching the new area and within a couple of minutes, I received a nice loud ferrous target and my VDI was telling me the target was 0-2 inches, under the surface of the ground. The ground was absolutely covered with leaves and I started removing the leaves and wiping the topsoil away when I saw the yellow cap, of the property pin. I then said “There it is” and Mona said something to the effect of “Wow, my friend didn’t think we would find it”. Mona was just so happy the property pin hadn’t be buried, by the work done on the parking spaces and told me that I had saved her from a lot of anxiety, for finding the pin. Mona then went up to the house and got some orange tape and tied it around the now found pin, so they will be able to see the pin much more easily. So now Mona and John can relax, knowing where all the corner pins are located. There is no better feeling than to be able to find the item that my clients are looking for. Smiles all around and I have the best job, in the world. 😀❤️🙏
As a side note, I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Mona and John that I may find their property pin but I cannot guarantee that the pin is in the correct location. I have no way of knowing if the pin has actually been moved, in the past, or not. Only a licensed surveyor can guarantee the pins are correct.
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