Child finds wedding rings that were missing for 30 years

FRANKLIN, Mass. -- A three-year-old boy made a sparkling find to brighten the day of one local woman.

The boy was digging in the dirt behind his parents' house when he unearthed some wedding rings.

More than 30 years ago Joan Mulligan lost her wedding rings at her home in Franklin.

She thought she'd never see them again.

"I had all the kids in the neighborhood looking, I promised them $20 each if they found my rings...and no one did," Mulligan said.

She never found them and years later Mulligan moved away.

"My husband was very, very upset when I lost them...but you know time goes on and you forget about them," Mulligan said.

She was reminded about the long-lost jewelry this week when she got a surprising phone call.

"I told her I think my three year-old son found something that belongs to you. She's like, ‘he didn't!' and I'm like, ‘oh I think he did,'" said Luna Baima.

Baima is the current owner of Mulligan's Franklin home.

She says last week her three-year-old son Ryan was playing in the backyard when he made an unexpected discovery.

"So this is where...brought me the band."

Baima quickly realized she was looking at wedding rings, and through a neighbor was able to contact Mulligan.

"It's a shock, obviously. It was really a shock, it's really nice," Mulligan said.

The 73-year-old says she is thrilled to have her precious rings back, and that they were found at the perfect time.

"This is my 50th wedding anniversary here, so it's very nice," Mulligan said.

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