Monday, July 9, 2012

Riverbank Loot

Timothy Yost was given back the $78,000 in cash and coins he found.

Does he look less than happy?  I wouldn’t be surprised.  They say that money can’t buy happiness – sometimes it can be a real pain in the ass.

Back in January, Timothy Yost, a homeless dude, found $78,000 in plastic bags along the banks of the Colorado River in a  city park.  Like a good citizen, he reported the find, and the City of  Bastrop took the loot – hundred dollar bills and gold Krugerrand coins - into custody while they looked for the rightful owner.

After a while, Yost hired an attorney, Aleta Peacock, to sue the city, and on June 12, the Bastrop City Council, told by City Attorney Jo-Christy Brown that a police investigation had determined the money was not contraband, unanimously agreed to return the money and coins to Yost.

The City of Bastrop had originally publicized the find and set a term of 90 days for the owner to step forward and claim the stash.  When the story about Yost getting the money hit the news, new “owners” started coming out of the woodwork, and now Bastrop police say that they have reopened their investigation.

Attorney Peacock said as far as she's concerned, the issue is dead.

"We were told police did a thorough investigation," she said. "This issue is not between Mr. Yost and Bastrop police. This is between the true owner of the money and Mr. Yost. And right now, we don't have anyone."

She also confirmed that Yost has taken his money and left the state.

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