KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It’s not everyday that someone comes across $10,000 in cash. But police say that’s what happened to a 10-year-old boy in his father at the Hilton hotel at the airport.
Except, it’s what they did next that we all might think twice about: Tyler Schaefer and his father, Cody, turned the bills over.
“This is probably the second time since I’ve been in this unit that I’ve got a call on found money of any large sum,” said Sgt. Randy Francis of the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department’s Property and Evidence Department.
Ten-year-old Cody found the cash in five separate $2,000 stacks inside a hotel room dresser. None of the cash had bands around them, which isn’t helping officers get an idea of where the money came from or who it belongs to.
And the person who owns it might have a tough time getting it back because of strict Missouri statues.
“They make is so difficult that you can’t get it back, and not only are the steps there, but you have to almost start those steps immediately,” said Francis.
So what if you’re the one who finds a stash of cash? You should know it’s not a case of “finders keepers.”
“Ten-thousand dollars would probably be enough that they could charge someone with a felony.”
You can get in trouble for not turning it in. The wasn’t the case in this situation, thanks to the honesty of a young boy and his father.
‘It’s very admirable to know that there are still good people out there.”
It is possible that if no one comes forward to claim the cash, the money will go to Tyler. However, police say, it’s a lengthy process, beginning with the boy and his father filing a motion in court.