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Family picks up ‘trash’ in the road while on drive then discovers $1M inside bags
The Schantzes tossed the bags into the back of their vehicle and continued their afternoon drive - clueless they'd just found almost a million dollars in cash.
Guido Gonzalez
07.30.21

We’ve all heard this story before: someone down on their luck finds a considerable sum of cash. But instead of keeping it for themselves, their conscience prevails, and they decide to return it to the rightful owner.

These days, stories like that receive a lot of scrutinies. Many comments on social media or YouTube would bemoan such an act of kindness, saying how they would choose to keep that money for themselves.

Pixabay - S K
Source:
Pixabay - S K

But returning a large amount of money to its rightful owner requires a lot of personal integrity, and that alone is worthy of respect.

It’s not too often though that the found cash is about a million dollars. After one couple made this discovery – they had a decision to make.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

The Schantz family from Carolina County, Virginia, wanted to escape the monotonous existence of quarantine. So, they went out for a drive through the country.

While enjoying the sights, none of them knew where this impromptu drive would lead them. Driving down Broad Street, the car in front swerved around a large trash bag in the middle of the road. The Schantzes weren’t so lucky.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

They ended up hitting one bag, thinking it was just trash, only to later find out it was treasure hidden in plain sight.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

Emily Schantz, the mother, recalls the bag making a hard, heavy thwack when it. The family picked up the trash bag and tossed it into the back of their pickup truck and saw another one fifteen feet away in a ditch, taking that too.

The family continued driving, utterly unaware of what they took.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

Just as the Schantzes were about to throw away both bags, they noticed they were carrying multiple envelopes.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

In an interview with WTVR, Emily Schantz said:

“Inside of the bag, there were plastic baggies, and they were addressed with something that said ‘cash vault.'”

Upon further study, the family discovered the bags containing nearly $1 million in cash. In response, Emily called The Carolina County Sheriff’s Office, where Major C. Scott Moser worked, and was stunned over the unusual find.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

“They’ve been riding around all day with almost a million dollars in the trunk!” Moser told WTVR.


YouTube - WTVR CBS 6
Source:
YouTube - WTVR CBS 6

The Schantz family had to deal with a strange problem: what to do with all of that money?

They decided the right thing to do was return it. As it turns out, the money was meant for The United States Postal Service and was lost in transit. Moser was quick to praise the Schantzes.

“To have someone so honest and just give that million dollars back is exceptional on their part.”

Pixabay - pasja1000
Source:
Pixabay - pasja1000

Sometimes, the only thing more rewarding than a million dollars is doing the right thing at the end.

Most people probably wouldn’t think twice about taking a random pile of money they just found. In all honesty, it isn’t an easy choice to make. Sometimes we need money not because of greed, but out of necessity.

Nevertheless, people who return the money they find may be thought of as dumb or naive, but the truth is that it takes a lot of willpower to ultimately do the right thing. It’s something not seen often and should be respected as well as admired.

Be sure to check out the video below to see more on this fascinating story!

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