http://www.theringfinders.com/dennis.boothby

The Ring Finders of Maine, 58 Summer Street, Saco, ME (2025)

12/21/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine with just a few call outs, in the last week or so and neither item was found. The owners are not sure where their items were lost, specifically. One lost item was lost and could be in 3 different parking lots. Unfortunately all parking lots are public and have been plowed, prior to Gary Hill and I arriving. The ring was also lost for 2+ weeks, prior to our searching and could be anywhere. We did search the areas where the client had parked but were not able to find the ring. Has it been found already? Still in a large snow bank ? We will search again, one the large snow banks have melted.
The second item we searched for, in the last week, was a gold necklace, with diamonds. Unfortunately, the client lost it in a very, very large recreational complex, consisting of ball fields, playgrounds and paths. He was walking, running and playing, with his dog and his exact movements are unknown. We did search the snowy areas, where we could see his and his dogs footprints. Unfortunately, the fields are very large and most of the areas do not have snow or footprints, from 5-6 days ago, when he lost it. Gary and I traveled 2 hours to help find this necklace, again, without finding it. Prayers both items are found.
So, A few finds, in the last couple weeks. A buckle from between 1690-1740, a flat button from, most likely the early 1800’s. Also a King George II half penny. The half penny is really corroded but were only made from 1727-1760. Copper Coins do not age well, in the ground but are still very fun to find. With these very old finds, I can’t wait to pullout some silver coins, which usually come out of the ground looking very good.
Wishing you all a Happy Holidays.😀❤️🙏

12/11/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #186, #187, and #188.

I was contacted by Deanna, concerning finding some long lost property pins/markers, on her York, Maine property. Her neighbors had recently sold their home and Deanna would just like to find the pins, dividing the properties. Deanna has lived at her current home for 15 years and has the most recent survey prints, from just before she bought her home, 15 years earlier. Deanna told me that she herself had pulled one of the pins, out of the ground, because it was in the way of her mowing. She now regrets that decision. There are two pins, in particular, Deanna would like us to find. The first, must find pin, is along the road and approximately 380’, from a property pin, in the front of her house, next to a fence. Pin #1 isn’t vital to find, but would make this job much easier. The pin is no longer visible, so we will need to find this pin #1, in a very confined corner, then measure 380’, down the road and search for pin #2, that Deanna wants us to find. If and when we find Pin #2, we will need to measure approximately 102 feet, out into the field, and find the Pin #3, that needs to be found, for Deanna. Deanna would also like to find a 4th pin, but it wasn’t as important as pins #2 & 3. For a job this big, area wise and measurement wise, I called in Gary Hill, to assist. Gary was happy to go with me and I set a date and time with Deanna.
This morning, December 11th, 2025, Gary and I headed to York, Maine. We arrived at just before 8:00am and was promptly met by Deanna. She showed us the area and then had to head into work. Gary and I immediately got to work and went to find Pin #1, in the front of the house, along the fence. This pin was found within 1 minute and we now had a property pin, to measure from and down the road, 380’, to Property Pin #2. This is one of the must find pins, that Deanna wanted us to find. So, Gary and I retrieved the 300’ tape measure and looped it around Property Pin #1. I then walked it down the road 300’ and marked it, at that point. Gary brought the tape up to the 300’ mark and we measured out another 80’. We should now be able to locate Pin #2, in the vicinity. Using a tape measure isn’t as accurate as GPS, now used by surveyors but it will put us very close, to within a foot or so. Gary and I started searching and our first target looked promising. A definite piece of iron, ringing up in the ferrous range. As we dug it, it turned out to be a large spike, from a long, long time ago. As we continued the search, our second target was also a ferrous target and after digging it, we had found what we were looking for. Property pin #2, had been found. Deanna had given us some orange stakes, to place next to the property pins. This pin was a pipe, as was Pin #1 and we placed the orange stake, right into the pipe. This Pin #2 was within a foot of where the 380’ measurement came to. I love it when it works out like this. Now on to Property Pin #3. A must find, for Deanna. Gary and I then measured approximately 102’, into the field and Gary noticed an iron rebar rod, sticking out of the ground, at just about the area, we would be searching in. We dug around the rebar and saw that the rebar had actually been placed, inside a pipe, like the one we had just found, up near the road. This was to easy, so we searched the area, for anymore property pins, but found absolutely nothing. Fantastic!!! Property Pins #1,2 and 3 had been found. Now let’s see if Pin #4, is findable. Deanna had told me that she thought Pin #4 may be in amongst some trees. Only one way to find out, Gary and I measured the 85’ and because it is being measured, at an angle and not a straight line, from Pin #3, we had a slightly larger area, to search. Some of the area, as you got close to the trees, were difficult to search, because the hay was fairly tall and we couldn’t swing the metal detector, very well. This area also has what looks like some sort of small path, for farm equipment or ATV’s. The path area was frozen and difficult to dig. The area also was producing a lot and I mean, a lot of large ferrous targets. We were digging up large iron pieces of old farm equipment. Could these pieces of iron, be masking out, the much smaller iron Property Pin? We did find a large iron Pin but we are not sure if it is the Property Pin. It was found 4’, short of where it should have been found. Gary and I think it may have been part of a fence, at one time. We had been finding fence wire in the area, so kind of makes sense. We decided to call it a day, due to the difficult circumstances and return, in the spring, once the ground thaws, on the path and the hay will be flattened, from this winters snow. I am sure we will find Pin #4, in the spring. I sent Deanna a message about finding 3 of the four Property Pins and two of the pins, were the ones, she really wanted, to have us find. Gary and I were happy to have found the three and were really happy to be getting out of the brutal windy conditions. We now have something to look forward to, this sprig and Deanna is extremely happy to finally know where the Property Pins are.
As a side note, I am not a licensed surveyor. I am just a metal detectorist trying to help others out. I informed Deanna and all my clients that I may find their property pin but I cannot guarantee that the pin is in the correct location. I have no way of knowing if the pin has actually been moved, in the past, or not. Only a licensed surveyor can guarantee the pins are in the correct spot.
Another adventure with property pins and this was a first for Gary and I. We searched fo, the pins, in the snow. We had never done that before and we were actually surprised at how much fun it was. Ok, not that much fun! Thankfully, not all of the ground was frozen and the snow was only an inch or two deep. This up coming spring, Gary and I will head back to York and hopefully find Property Pin #4. Who doesn’t love helping others out. Gary and I are happy, Deanna is happy. A win, win for everyone and smiles all around. We have the best job in the world😀❤️🙏

l

12/07/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #185

Thursday morning, December 4th, I received a phone call from Kandy. Kandy’s friend, Corey, had lost his cell phone, a few days earlier, while shoveling his driveway, during a snow storm. Corey wasn’t able to call me, because, well, he lost his phone. Kandy told me that Corey searched the areas that he had shoveled, along the driveway and up to the shed, on his Town of Windham, Maine property. Kandy and others had also searched the snow and snow banks, for Corey’s phone, without finding it. Kandy asked if I could search for the phone, with my metal detector. I told her I could absolutely search for it , but it would be in an hour or so, as Cheryl and I were in Biddeford, Maine, running errands. I told Kandy that as soon as I returned home, I would grab my metal detecting equipment and head to Windham, Maine. It was now just after 10:00am and I figured I could get to Corey’s house around 11:30am and 12:00pm. Candy said that would be great and if I needed anything, she only lived approximately 10 minutes away.
After dropping Cheryl off at home and loading my equipment up, I left for the Windham Maine Highland Lake area, arriving at 11:45am. I immediately took a photo, of the driveway and sent it to Kandy. I want to make sure I had the right property and not someone else’s. Kandy replied immediately and confirmed I had the correct property. The search area was not very large, at all. I was estimating 15-20 minutes to search the shoveled areas. I would start at the left front of the driveway, as you faced the house. I would search straight up the driveway and walkway, then turn and come down the right side of the driveway. As I started, I could see quite a few potential obstacles, in the way of large pieces of metal. While searching, large metal will mask the item, I am looking for. My metal detector cannot get within a foot or two of vehicle, lawn furniture, even houses, with aluminum siding. If the item I am looking for, is next to one of these sources of interference, I may not be able to find the item. As soon as I started, I saw a cyclone fence, lawn furniture and other metal objects. If I was unable to locate the phone, because of this metal, I would need to go back and use my pinpointer, sticking into the snow and hoping it picks up the phone. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
As I made my way along the cyclone fence, it really wasn’t interfering at all, except in the area, of the support posts, for the fence. So far, so good but still no phone. Next up was the path, to the shed and there was no interference and also no phone. I then made my way back down the path, along the house, with interference, but still no phone. I only had a 25-30 foot section of snow to search, from the corner of the house, to the mailbox. Approximately 1/2 way between the corner of the house and the mailbox, I received a very loud high tone, reading 96, on my VDI screen. I couldn’t see anything, so I continued swinging the coil, removing a little snow, from the area, with each swing. All of a sudden, I saw the side outline of something black, just like a phone. I removed a little more snow and verified that it was Corey’s phone. My first thought was, YES, I wan’t have to go back along the metal interference it’s and search manually, with the pinpointer. I then took a photo, of the phone, all covered in snow and sent it to Kandy. The entire search, from the timestamp on the photo I took and sent to Kandy, at the start of the search, to the photo I just took of the phone was just 18 minutes. Not to bad. I then called Kandy and she was so happy that Corey would be getting his phone back. Kandy arrived about 10-15 minutes and thank me again for coming out so quickly and expressed amazement that the phone was found and so fast. She told me that where I found the phone wasn’t searched throughly because Corey really thought it wasn’t lost in that area and most of the search effort was along the other areas. As you all know, if you aren’t sure where something was lost, it could be anywhere. Kandy then took a few photos of me holding the phone, as she preferred not be be all over social media. As I was leaving, Kandy was still all smiles, thanking me and was heading, into the house, to leave Corey’s phone inside. Later that afternoon, Kandy sent me a message

“Thank you again! Really appreciate you coming so quickly. Corey is very grateful that you found his phone.”

So, more smiles and another phone back up to the ear. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

l

12/06/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #184

I received the following message during Tuesday evenings snow storm, at approximately 10:30pm.
“Would you be available tomorrow morning to help locate a set of keys that fell into the snow near my car?”
The message was from Erika and I told her I was already booked, to search for a two rings, in the morning. One ring in Westbrook, Maine and one in South Portland, Maine. I then asked her where she was located and she replied, “Scarborough, Maine.” I then thought to my self that I could have Gary Hill, search for the wedding ring, in Westbrook and I could search for the keys, in the Town of Scarborough, Maine, while on my way to Southportland,ME, to search for a class ring, at Southern Maine Community College. According to Erika, the area she lost her key fob was very small and after searching for 2-3 hours, she just couldn’t find them in the snow. I made plans to meet Erika at 6:30am, the next morning, Wednesday December 3rd. I would be able to search for an hour or so, before I had to be in Southportland .
So, Gary headed to Westbrook, I headed to Scarborough and then on to South Portland. Gary and I had communicated that we would meet up at any, of the locations, to help each other, should the help be needed, once our respective searches were completed. I arrived at Erika’s, promptly at 6:30am and Erika was there to meet me. It was cold and the sun was just starting to rise, as Erika showed me the very small area, to be searched. I knew I could cover the entire area, in just 15-20 minutes. Unfortunately, the two vehicles were setting my metal detector off and I couldn’t get very close to the vehicles. Erika moved one of the vehicles, but couldn’t’t move hers, because she didn’t have the key fob. I searched the entire area, from the stairs, to the house and the areas around the two vehicles. No key fob found. We then took a shovel and moved all the snow, away from any metal objects, that could have been masking the key fob. Even after shoveling, still no key fob. I then decided to search the area, a second time. This time I would search North to South, rather that East to West, like the first search. Fifteen minutes later, still no key fob. I told Erika I would use my Minelab CTX-3030 metal detector, for a third search. I had been using a Minelab Manticore but decided to try my other detector, As I am getting the CTX-3030 set up and started searching, I was telling Erika that I really didn’t think the key fob was outside, in the area she thought it would be. I then started asking Erika many questions like, “Had you gone to any other area of the driveway? No, just around the cars and back and forth into the house, was her reply. “Have you checked your coat pockets and pants pockets”. Yes I have searched the many times. Did you have anything else on that hasn’t been searched, like a hoodie, gloves, or hat?” At that point, Erika said she would be right back and headed into the house. I was continuing the search, with the CTX-3030 and still wasn’t finding anything, not even a key fob. As I was working my way towards the walkway to the house, Erika came out the door and said, “You can stop searching. I have it’ WHAT? She found the key fob? As Erika approached e, she said, “When you were asking me all those questions, you jogged my memory, when you asked if I had had anything else on.” Erika went on to tell me that the previous day, while cleaning the cars off, some snow from the storm had made it’s way down the back of her coat, all over her neck and clothing. Eriks went inside to get the snow out from the inside of her coat and clothing, including a vest, she had been wearing. Once the snow had been removed, Erika went back out side to finish the snow clean up. Once finished, Erika went back inside the house and a few hours later, at 7:00pm, went to get her keys, but couldn’t find them. Thinking she must have dropped them, hours ago, out in the snow, she went outside and searched, for the key fob but couldn’t find it. She went inside and searched through her clothing, forgetting all about the vest, she had taken off, many hours earlier. When I jogged her memory, she went straight to the vest and in the inside pocket, of the vest, was a key fob. Case close!!! Since it was the only key fob available to start her car with, Erika was in panic mode and the vest completely slipped her mind. Erika was extremely relieved and could now get in her vehicle and get on with her day, with a big smile, on her face.
Gary and I ask a lot of questions, on every search. People just don’t remember everything but once we are on site and show an interest, in helping them, people relax a little and start thinking more clearly, once we start asking all those questions. So it isn’t always a metal detector that finds a lost item, sometimes it’s just a little detective work. It doesn’t matter how the lost item is found. The important thing is that the client has their item back and a smile on their face. Another key fob, back in the car and I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

l

12/04/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return # 183 and Return #100, For 2025

On Tuesday evening I received a phone call, from Hailey and I could hear the anguish, in her voice. Approximately an hour earlier, at 9:00pm, Hailey lost her 2023 Oak Hill High School class ring. Oak Hill High School is located in Wales Maine, just outside Lewiston, Maine. Hailey is a second year student at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), in South Portland, Maine and was sledding, on a very small hill, on campus. Hailey and her friends didn’t have anything to slide with, so they improvised some pizza boxes, into sleds. With a snowy winter storm still raging on, Hailey was enjoying the fun of sliding down the hill, with her friends. On her third or fourth trip down the hill, Hailey noticed her 2023 Platinum class ring was no longer on her finger. Hailey and her friends search the snowy hillside for an hour, without finding the ring. At this point, one of her friends suggested Hailey call The Ring Finders of Maine. I told Hailey that I could absolutely search for her ring, but not until the next morning. Because the snow storm was still fairly strong and raging on, I wasn’t going to drive out there, until the storm stopped. Safety is paramount and everyone’s wellbeing is my top priority.

Being retired allows me to arrive nice and early and that’s what I did. I arrived next morning, at SMCC and called Hailey. Hailey told me she would be right down. I saw a father and his two young children, sledding on the hill and asked them if they had found a ring. They had not. So while waiting for Hailey, I gave the children a demonstration, on how a metal detector works. They had shown an interest, when they saw my metal detector and since I like to set up and calibrate my detector, before I search, it was a win, win. The children loved how my detector, could find metal, under the snow. As I was finishing the demonstration, Hailey arrived, from her dorm room. Hailey then showed me the area they had been sledding and it was a very small area. I was able to search the area in just 10 minutes or so. Since I had searched just half of the hill area, she had been sledding down, I told Hailey, I would expand the search area, to the other half of the hill, on the chance it flew off her finger to that area. I would at the same time, research the area, I had just covered, At the bottom of the hill, there is a parking lot and some snow had been plowed , onto the base of the hill. I asked Hailey if the snowbanks, at the bottom of the hill, had been there, the previous evening. She replied they had not. I was concerned that her class ring may have been plowed into the now fairly frozen snowbank. Hailey had to go back to her dorm room for a few minutes and as she left, I started my grid search, at the top of hill and worked my way down, towards the snowbank and parking lot. I was unable to locate the ring, on the hill. As I stood at the base of the hill, looking at the snowbank, I knew there was no way I would find the ring, deep inside the frozen snowbank. From the parking lot, I searched the hard packed snow, leading up to the snowbank. The ring was not in the parking lot. I decided to search the snowbank as best as I could, from the parking lot side first. Almost immediately, I received a very faint low tone, reading 05, on my VDI screen and approximately 6-7 inches in the snow. The reading told me that it was definitely a low conducting, non ferrous metal, the same as Platinum. Unfortunately there are many non ferrous trash signals that could ring up in that range, including different foils. It wasn’t a great sounding target but I needed to perform due diligence and check the target out. I removed some snow and ice and then I saw a reddish or purplish colored stone, in a silver colored setting. The ring has been found. I took a few photos, of the ring, as I first saw it. I then called Hailey and as the phone was ringing, Hailey appears at the top of the hill. I asked if she could come down, to the bottom of the hill, so I could ask her some more questions. When she made it to the bottom, I told her to look in the dug hole, in the snow and asked her “ Does that look familiar?” As Hailey looked into the hole and saw her class ring she says, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Thank you” and picks the ring up, placing it back on her finger. Hailey kept thanking me and seeing just how much this ring means to her put a big smile on my face. I then told Hailey that she shouldn’t be wearing her rings, while sledding. Hailey told me she would never wear them again, while sledding. A lesson learned for a young college student, smiles all around and another ring back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

l

12/03/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #183, at Southern Maine Community College, in South Portland, Maine. This is also Recovery and Return #100, for 2025. Full story to follow, tomorrow! Another Ring is Back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.

l

12/02/2025

With anywhere from 4-10 inches of snow forcasted for tomorrow , please be careful out there.

Have you lost something in the snow, leaves, grass, sand, etc? A ring, keys, phone or something else metallic? I can help you find it, with our Emergency Metal Detecting Services . Call The Ring Finders of Maine, at 207-423-3027. Do not hesitate. The quicker we can start searching , the greater the chances of finding your lost item

As always NO CHARGE FOR MY TIME OR MY SERVICE. Just a low Transportation Fee, starting at $10.00, to cover my gas, tolls, wear and tear, etc.. All transportation costs will be discussed , prior to us searching. No hidden fees or other costs, just our transportation fee
Call Dennis at 207-423-3027❤️🙏

11/27/2025

🦃🍁We are grateful for another wonderful year of helping people rediscover what matters most. Whether it's a lost ring, a cherished keepsake, or a memory waiting to be found, we're always honored to be part of your stories.
May your day be filled with good food, laughter, and time with the people you're thankful for.🦃🍁
From our family to yours — Happy Thanksgiving!
- The Ring Finders of Maine ❤️🙏

11/26/2025

Not a bad morning hunt, of just an hour and a half, or so. A Seated Liberty Dime, with the CC mint mark (Carson City) (1875?), two unidentified pennies with a possible fatty Indian Head (will clean up later. and a .58 caliber bullet (mid to late 1800's?). Just good to get out.

11/25/2025

The Ring Finders of Maine, With Recovery and Return #182

I received a call from Dave, just after noon on Monday, November 24th. Dave lost his wedding ring, of 15 years, while moving a vehicle. Dave works at a local auto dealer and repair shop and has asked not to mention the establishment or use his photo, in the story. I will absolutely follow his wish. Anyways, Dave had shook his hand, approximately an hour before calling me, as he was getting into a vehicle, he had to move, in the lot. When he shook his hand, his wedding ring went rolling across the lot and was headed towards an embankment of leaves and rocks, leading down, to a small brook. Dave said the ring was rolling very slowly and thought the leaves and rocks would stop the ring, as soon as it reached the end of the pavement. So, as the ring slowly rolled towards the leaves, Dave moved the vehicle and would come back to retrieve the wedding ring, in just a minute or so. Once Dave came back for his ring, he couldn’t find it. He visually searched the leaves and rocks, along the parking lots edge. Dave could not find the ring. Dave also used an inexpensive metal detector, to search the area. Again no ring was found. This is when Dave called me and asked for help. I told Dave I would be right there in approximately 5 minutes, as I live near S**o Main Street less than two miles, from where the ring was lost.
Once I arrived, Dave showed me where he was, when the ring came off his finger and rolled towards the embankment. Dave told me he actually saw the ring rolling and was certain it would be along the edge of parking lot, in an area just 25-30 feet in length. I looked at the area and thought the ring should be right there, as it was slowly rolling and not flying off his finger. I started the detector up and took out a gold test ring and showed Dave how my detector sounds and works. Dave thought his ring was either Tungsten or Titanium but couldn’t remember. Not a problem, the detector will find it, if it is made of metal. Once the detector was set up and running, I worked my way from the east end of the parking area, to the western end of the lot. Nothing found but small pieces of foil were found. I then took a step down the embankment and headed back to the east side of the lot. Again, nothing but trash. I repeated these steps, all the way to the bottom of the embankment. I even searched the brook, at the bottom and the wedding ring still had not been found. Dave was in disbelief and flabbergasted, as was I. I then started searching the area again, only this time I was searching north and south, up and down the embankment , from the parking lot to the brook, up to the lot, back to the brook. Still nothing and at this point, I told Dave that I would switch from my 11” coil, to my 8” sniper coil. I was thinking the ring may have gotten into a crevice and the smaller coil would get into the crevice, easier than the 11” coil. I also asked Dave if he had possibly run the ring over, moving the car and moving the ring, out of the area. No way possible, I was told . The ring was almost to the embankment when he last saw it. No way the wedding ring was near the moving and or parked cars. I then asked Dave if he had looked under the parked cars and he told me that he hadn’t. I asked if he had a flashlight and if he could search under the parked cars, while I performed my third search of the embankment and brook.As I was once again searching, Dave searched under the parked cars, with the flashlight, without finding the ring. I also struck out, for the third time, on the embankment. As I stood talking with Dave, we just couldn’t comprehend how a ring rolling slowly towards the embankment, could just disappear. I told Dave that it just had to be under one of the parked cars and that the cars should be moved, while I once again, for the fourth time, search the embankment. I was also concerned that if the vehicles weren’t searched underneath and moved, the ring may be hit, the next time someone just got in the vehicle and drove off. Moving the vehicles now, in a more controlled environment would be much better. As I was searching, the vehicles were moved and the ring still wasn’t found. When I finished the fourth search, I told Dave that I would return, in the morning, with a leaf blower and blow all the leaves, from the area. But first I wanted to try a little closer to the road, although I did’t think it would have rolled that far, I had to do my due diligence and search it. Still nothing was found and as I was walking back, I heard Dave say, “Oh my God, it’s right here.” As I looked over towards him he reached down and picked up his wedding ring. He found it right where one of the cars had been parked but Dave didn’t see the ring, with the flashlight. Dave also missed seeing it, once the vehicles had been moved. It just blended in with asphalt, pine needles, etc.. It appears that the ring had done a complete 180 boomerang, from the last time Dave had seen the ring. Did the ring hit a pebble of something else and turn around? We will never know. What I do know is that after searching the embankment four times, I just knew the ring wasn’t there. It just had to be under one of the parked cars and once the vehicles were moved, there it was. So, another smile on the face and another ring, back on the finger. I have the best job, in the world.😀❤️🙏

l

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