A construction crew preparing a wooded area in Dupont, Wash., for a park-and-ride lot found a buried trash can last week containing as much as $10,000.
The most recent mint date on the coins and bills is 1985. Dupont Police Chief Michael Pohl told the Associated Press the department is trying to get the money back to its rightful owner.
“Obviously there was a crime committed somewhere,” he said. “We’re estimating 10 to 20 years ago.”
Police haven’t counted all the money yet, but think it will add up to $6,000 to $10,000. The Washington State Crime Laboratory is testing some of the bills for fingerprints and is trying to trace the cash.
The money will go to the regional transit authority if police can’t find its rightful owner.
Lee Somerstein, a spokesman for the transit authority, told AP the speculation is probably more interesting than the truth. “Maybe it was some old curmudgeon who buries his money because he doesn’t trust banks,” he said.
