This is why I never and will never come to a forum of any kind to ask about a gold ring I found.
Let me just state my position. If I dig up a ring, first and foremost, it belongs, NOW, to ME! Period.
After that, if I CHOOSE to try and return it because of a name/circumstances I will first ask why they think
I feel the ring is the one they lost. (as opposed to a ring that "belongs" to them) I'll also ask them for a
description of the ring they lost. Then, and only then, I'll consider sending it to them, no charge.
I actually returned one recently that I did some heavy research to find the owner because they had their full
name inscribed inside. I was fortunate that they were a known, local celebrity who was no longer local but rather
a regional celebrity. I contacted, they responded, I was satisfied with their description of why I thought it was theirs and
the ring. I sent it to them. I got a nice, albeit rather polite, "thank you". That's it. Did I expect more? Probably. It was worth
about 200 now and it could've just become part of a melted block for sale. No offer to compensate my time, (I didn't ask),
just sort of a wham, bam, thank you ma'am sort of letter. Sure did warm the cockles of my bottom.
Anyway, there's at least one thing about your story that strikes me as odd. The way this person seemed to attempt to
associate this ring with a crime, stolen goods, AND....where of all places was this to have taken place? California. I really
do NOT think that this person is some high end bad guy and trying to set up a case in order to get this lowly *little* piece
of gold. But, it does seem interesting to me.
In this case, given what you've already done, send it to her and write it to experience. Be a little smarter next time, at least you
did get that bit of experience from the exchange.
