Worcester teen returns $20k in jewelry found in donated jacket
A 17-year-old South High student said he didn’t think twice about returning $20,000 worth of jewelry that he found in a donated jacket.
Luke Coelho, who moved to Worcester from Brazil over the summer, got the jacket from his school’s clothing donation program called Andy’s Attic.
He said he couldn’t believe what he later found inside a pocket, including two diamond rings, two Gucci watches and an emerald bracelet.
He told Boston 25 News that keeping it for himself never crossed his mind.
“It seemed really sentimental and meaningful for someone,” said Coelho.
Coelho told his aunt about what he found, and her detective work began.
“I look inside, and there’s all this jewelry inside,” said aunt Taryn Souza. “This is someone’s history. This is someone’s family, and this is important to someone.”
Souza visited local jewelry stores before noticing a critical clue on the jacket.
The name ‘Dave’ and a uniform services company logo were printed on it.
That company, which now goes by a different name, helped put Souza in touch with a retired truck driver for the company.
“I had no idea it was in there. My wife must’ve put it in there before she passed,” said Dave Kenney.
Kenney said one of the diamond rings belonged to his wife who died last year and the other belonged to his late mother-in-law.
He told Boston 25 News that he donated the jacket to the school’s donation center without checking the pockets.
“I appreciate what he did from the bottom of my heart,” said Kenney.
Kenney has already shown some gratitude to Coehlo by helping the teen get a part-time job as a busboy at the Auburn Elks Lodge.
Coehlo said the two now share a special bond and that he considers Kenney a friend.
“It makes my heart feel warm,” he added. “The message I want to send is to be generous and be kind.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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