AMI vacationer relieved by MCSO response to lost rings

By robert Anderson islander reporter

Local heroes has a ring to it.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies helped to reunite a vacationer on Anna Maria Island with some deeply sentimental and valuable jewelry.

Andrea O’Donnell of Grosse Ile Township, Michigan, and her family have visited the island for the past five years and each time rented the same home in Anna Maria.

This spring break, the O’Donnell family had to make a hasty trip April 1 to the airport.

“At that point, our time in our rental house was up and we were in a panic trying to figure out what we were going to do if we couldn’t get a flight out,” O’Donnell said in an April 13 interview with The Islander.

She said another family was scheduled to begin its stay in the rental and her family felt rushed.

“In the craziness, I left my engagement ring and another very important ring that my husband had given me for our 10-year anniversary on a nightstand next to the bed,” O’Donnell said

Later that day, after departing the island, O’Donnell realized she didn’t have her rings, which she valued at more than $20,000.

O’Donnell reached out to the rental agency to let them know what had happened.

The cleaning service, however, did not locate the rings.

The rental company told O’Donnell they would keep looking, check vacuum traps and alert a company that does their linens.

O’Donnell also contacted the MCSO and was connected with Deputies Jared Leggett and JoAnn Parkinson of the Anna Maria substation.

“He listened to me, he was very reassuring and gave me hope. He made me feel hopeful. He also gave me a bunch of information on different ways to handle the issue,” O’Donnell said of Leggett.

She said Parkinson kept in touch, finally calling days after her departure to say the rings were found under the foot of the bed the cleaning crew.

Prime Vacations, the management company, wrote in an email to The Islander: “We were thrilled to be able to reunite this couple with their precious wedding rings.”

O’Donnell’s relatives from St. Petersburg collected the rings.

“I don’t think I could ever do enough to let them know how wonderful the Manatee sheriff’s office was and how seriously they impacted my life,” O’Donnell said. “They were wonderful. For anyone visiting, anyone living there just knowing that you have that support and that they will truly do anything they can to help you.”

Found on the beach

Holmes Beach police respond about 8 a.m. April 16 to a vehicle on the beach — apparently stuck in the sand. No owner or operator was present, and the vehicle, registered in Palmetto, was towed. No other information was available as The islander went to press. islander Photo: Courtesy Holmes Beach

Island watch

In an emergency, call 911. To report information, call the MCSO Anna Maria substation, 941-7088899; Bradenton Beach police, 941-778-6311; or Holmes Beach police, 941-708-5804.

JEREMY NEWTON AND TRACY GRAY / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ