Finders, Keepers: Texas Homeless Man Gets to Keep Found Treasure
In Bastrop, Texas, the City Council has ruled in favor of letting homeless man keep the $77,000 he found by the Colorado River.
Last January, Timothy Yost found a bag by the river bank in Fisherman’s Park that contained 70 $100 and 40 gold South African Krugerrands (valued at $1,600 each). He took the currency to the bank to exchange the wet bills for dry ones, where a teller notified police, assuming the money was stolen.
Authorities took custody of the loot, as Texas law requires police to ensure found money is not linked to a crime. After a lengthy investigation, the police determined that the cash was legit and, as they were unable to locate the rightful owner, they turned the money over to the city.
Yost and his attorney, Aleta Peacock, have been working with the city for months to return the money to his possession.
"It means everything to him. He has a whole future ahead of him. He has the opportunity to make plans and have a real future," Peacock told Fox 7 News.
Unfortunately, Yost will have to wait a little bit longer to enjoy his new wealth, as he is currently in jail on charges of public intoxication and criminal trespassing - a common charge against the homeless.
When asked what he would do with the money in an interview last month, Yost said, “I’ve been walking for so long, first thing I want is a vehicle.”
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