In a world where stories about hidden cash often end in legal headaches or ethical questions, one Ohio man showed how doing the right thing can turn a surprise find into something more meaningful.
Walter Castanedo of Toledo bought a rundown home in early 2024 with plans to renovate it. The three-bedroom, one-bath house cost him only $1,000. While clearing out the basement, he uncovered something he never expected: old envelopes stuffed with $100 bills. In total, he found about $10,000 hidden between paving stones.
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"I just kind of felt like ‘Whoa’," Castanedo told WTOL 11 reporter Steve Iwanek in early 2025. "Because you read about this stuff, but you never actually see it. And then when it’s right there in front of you, it’s kind of hard to process.”
Most of the bills appeared to be from the early 1980s, with the most recent from 1981, which suggested the money had been hidden for decades.
Finding treasure
Castanedo discovered five envelopes with money inside while gutting the basement of the small home. Some were wedged under bricks where he believed a potbelly stove once sat.
"They were black, but you could just make out when I shined a light on it,” Castanedo explained. “There were 100s in the corners."
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator, $10,000 in January of 1981 would be worth $36,276.44 as of December 2024.
But the real surprise wasn’t the cash itself. After the shock wore off, Castanedo tried to track down someone connected to the home’s past. With a few calls, he reached Andrew Aranyosi, who lived in the house from 1946 to 1967. Aranyosi believed his dad, Andrew Sr., likely hid the money.
"I talked to him (Aranyosi) and I said, ‘Look, I found something in your basement," Castanedo told WTOL11. "I found some money in your basement and I’d like to split it with you. "
Aranyosi was shocked. He suspected his dad had likely hidden the cash, but he never knew about it.
"My dad built parts of the home," Aranyosi said. "He added a whole new bedroom on the back of the house above the kitchen, and that’s actually the bedroom I was in. The $10,000 — I would say my father definitely tucked that somewhere in the bricks or wherever."
Castanedo, reflecting on his decision, said: “I thought, ‘If the situation was reversed, how would I want the new owner to handle it?’” Castanedo told The Toledo Blade (2).
Aranyosi was surprised and grateful to have the cash.
"He (Castanedo) found it; it was his, but to have him call and everything was unbelievable," he explained.
According to WTOL11, Aranyosi used half of the cash to pay medical bills, with some left over for the future. Castandedo said he plans to invest his share in renovating the house.
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Finders keepers?
Stories like this story raise an interesting question: If you find cash during a renovation, who legally owns it? While laws vary by state, here are some general steps experts recommend:
- Document the find: Take photos or videos of where and how the money was discovered. This helps if questions come up later.
- Notify the property owner: If you’re a renter or contractor and don’t own the property, you can’t assume the money is yours.
- Check local laws: Some states have "treasure trove" laws that give rights to the finder when the original owner can’t be identified (3). Others require reporting the discovery to the police.
- ** Consider contacting the previous homeowner:** While not required everywhere, doing so can prevent disputes and, as Castanedo showed, can build goodwill.
- When in doubt, get legal advice: Large sums can trigger claims from estates, lenders or even insurance companies. A quick consultation save some trouble later.
In Ohio, where Castanedo made his discovery, treasure trove laws usually favor the finder when the original owner isn’t known (4). That held true here. The home had changed hands several times, and there was no clear record of who hid the money.
Ultimately, Castanedo chose to share the windfall, turning a renovation into a human-interest story about honesty and community.
Castanedo and Aranyosi formalized the arrangement by agreeing to split the money evenly. When the two men met to split the cash, Aranyosi shared stories about his father and the home he grew up in, turning the unexpected discovery into a meaningful connection.
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Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
WTOL (1); Toledo Blade (2); Farm Progress (3); eConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy P.C. (4).
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.