Virginia family finds, returns $1 million found in middle of the road

An eastern Virginia family found nearly $1 million in cash after running over bags full of money while out for a drive this past weekend.

According to Richmond’s CBS affiliate, WTVR, Emily Schantz of Caroline County said she was driving with her family when she noticed the car in front of them swerve to avoid something in the road.

She said she drove over the object and pulled over to get it off the road. The object turned out to be a mail bag, which she put in her car along with a second bag that was nearby.

Little did she know she was in possession of $1 million.

Schantz told the station the bags contained plastic baggies inside that were “addressed with something that said ‘cash vault.’”

Upon the realization, they called the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators believe the mail bags belong to the postal service and the money was meant for a bank, but it’s still a mystery how they ended up along the road, WTVR reported.

The Schantzes returned the money.

“Man, this is a cruel joke. You find a bag of money and gotta give it back,” Schantz joked.

Major Scott Moser praised the family’s integrity.

“For someone so honest and willing to give that almost $1 million back, it’s exceptional on their part,” Moser said. “Their two sons were with them so I put the lights on for them, but we are proud and they represented this county well by being so honest.”

“Do the right thing and return it,” Schantz said. “Because it didn’t belong to us.”