Cold Cash: Couple Finds $12K In Fridge

Previous Renters Of Wisconsin Apartment Were Drug Dealers

(AP)  A Janesville couple is hoping they will be allowed to keep the nearly $12,000 in cash they found in their refrigerator when they moved into an apartment.

"It would be a very big help," said Colleen Mesler, 65. "We've been waiting and waiting, and nobody's called to claim it. Other people have found money and got to keep it."

Mesler cried as she talked about the money she found while cleaning the refrigerator in her apartment in early December.

The previous renters have been charged in drug trafficking cases. Police searched the apartment in February and seized crack cocaine, marijuana, a scale and other materials related to drug sales. They found $1,100 on one of the defendants but no bills with serial numbers matching those undercover agents used to buy drugs.

Janesville Deputy Police Chief David Moore said the city will likely keep the money.

"If it is determined that the money is the proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs, then it would be contraband, and on behalf of Janesville taxpayers, we would seize that money," Moore said. But, he added, that has not yet been determined.

Colleen Mesler found the moldy and deteriorating bills wrapped in tin foil and plastic in the freezer. Her husband told her to throw the tray out.

"I thought it was old meat, stale meat," said Jim Mesler, 55.

"But it didn't smell like bad meat," Colleen Mesler said. "I pulled it apart and found $100 bills. I was more shocked. 'I'm not throwing this away,' I thought."

The couple spent the afternoon warming the bills in the oven and separating them with tweezers.

"About $2,000 of it was torn up, or we couldn't get the mold off it," Jim Mesler said. "I just went and looked in the mirror and thought, 'Nothing like this happens to us."'

Police estimated the stash at $11,950. A precise tally wasn't possible because some bills were stuck together or had deteriorated, according to a court document.

The couple said they would still turn in the cash if they had to do it over. But with an income below poverty level, they are hoping the money will eventually be returned to them.

What would they do with it?

"Pay our bills," the couple said in unison.

[bb19631]

I would have kept my mouth shut about the money. Why, the helll did they go to the police?? I guess the cops forgot to look in the freezer!!!

[forthepeopl1]

LOOK OUT, BUSH/CHENEY WILL SAY IT BELONGS TO THEM

[displeased]

If that be the case then can''''t we write off money we lose, change lost in the cushios of the couch and bills that fall out of our pockets?
Posted by guysdigdirt

The IRS expects you to report everything. They even expect drug dealers to report their profits, even though it''s an illegal trade. What a joke. My professor even joked about the fact that no drug dealer in their right mind would complete the form. But it''s there! Witnessed it myself.

[guysdigdirt]

Displeased said "My guess is it''''''''s drug money. Who else would keep 12K in the fridge?".


the freezer is the number one place Americans hide money in the home.

[guysdigdirt]

Displeased: Why would they have to pay taxes on it? It is not income, it is just something they found.
Posted by honestabe8

If I can remember correctly from my old income tax class, the IRS places finding cash in the same category as winning the lottery, however I''''m not entirely certain. Any tax accountants out there to verify?
Posted by Displeased

If that be the case then can''t we write off money we lose, change lost in the cushios of the couch and bills that fall out of our pockets?

[rohink-2009]

I truly admire them for being honest. Hopefully they will be able to keep at least a portion of the money.

[honestabe8]

crzmeat: one of the reasons crime is rampant is that there is a disrespect for law enforcement. that is partially due to law enforcement. prohibit this, prohibit that...

[Krazcarl]

Displeased.... it was old pot money kept cold we all know where it came from but can''t prove it so it could have been thier stash of cash it''s proven the resourses were illegall in the first place. OK i find your wallet don''t like ya so I can keep it this is why crime is rampet in this country.

[honestabe8]

displeased: you may be right about the tax implications of the finding. however, with the lottery, you took a step to make (win) the money. in the case of found money, it sort of fell into your lap (so to speak).

crzmeat: in this case, the people it "belongs" to were prosecuted on drug charges. it does not belong to the government, although they will try to tell you it does through asset forfeiture.

[displeased]

our society has gotten so lame.If you find cash and KNOW who it belongs to you should return it.
Posted by crzmeat

Please read the story and posts more carefully. Nobody said anything about keeping cash from somebody they KNOW who it belongs to. You''re probably making the assumption when we say to keep our mouth shut, that is from the owners (if we know who they are). It''s actually to keep our mouth shut from the authorities (so they don''t end up keeping it)

[displeased]

Displeased: Why would they have to pay taxes on it? It is not income, it is just something they found.
Posted by honestabe8

If I can remember correctly from my old income tax class, the IRS places finding cash in the same category as winning the lottery, however I''m not entirely certain. Any tax accountants out there to verify?

[Krazcarl]

I love human logic I have found cash that came from criminal behavior so it''s cool to keep it and not even say thanks our society has gotten so lame.If you find cash and KNOW who it belongs to you should return it you''ll probably get a reward but not all the cash life is simple if you don''t look for shortcuts

[j_flood]

I think they are entitled to a finder''s fee. A generous one at that!

[j_flood]

I think they are entitled to a finder''s fee. A generous one at that!

[j_flood]

I think they are entitled to a finder''s fee. A generous one at that!

[j_flood]

I think they are entitled to a finder''s fee. A generous one at that!

[honestabe8]

They should have kept their mouths shut.

Now that the law enforcement bureaucracy knows about it, I doubt that they will let them keep some of it

Displeased: Why would they have to pay taxes on it? It is not income, it is just something they found.

[antoniof123]

The police department is like the insurance companies they will keep it any way they can.

[excoachken]

We all could use a little "cold cash."

[nolalou]

Displeased said "My guess is it''''s drug money. Who else would keep 12K in the fridge?".

Well, it was either drug money, or maybe it belonged to Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson! They found $90,000 of bribe money in his freezer! I wonder if he''s ever been to Wisconsin?