[aruanan]

John Belko, the widower of Joyce Belko, who ran Daher's for years before dying of cancer in 2003, believes the money rightfully belongs to her estate.

The cops will say that since she used drugs while dying of cancer the money belongs to them.

The money was in a safe that was sold as part of a property. The ownership of the safe and its contents passed to the new owner. If he discarded it, he discarded his rights to it and everything it contained. The owner of the lot upon which it was dumped is now the owner of the safe and its contents. If it had been dumped there without his permission, then the truck driver who dumped it there should be charged for illegal dumping.

There was a story once about someone in a flea market or rock show who saw a gigantic star sapphire in amongst other chunks of rocks and bought it. After it became known what he had acquired, the former owner tried to claim that she (I think it was a she) should get something more, that she was cheated out of it, etc., etc.. I think the outcome in that case was like what should be the outcome in this case: boo hoo, you should have been more attentive--especially since everyone knows 1. a safe is used to guard things of value, 2. the safe was locked with, probably, something still inside.

Someone who would toss it out after letting it sit for years without attempting to open it or to even have the curiosity to try to get it opened deserves the gigantic disappointment of seeing the outcome of his foolishness and lack of curiosity.

[Sacajaweau]

There may be extenuating circumstances to all this...Who else knew about the secret compartment? Is the widower competent??

I don't think so because he says the money belongs to her estate....when in fact....at least 1/2 of it is his in a community property state. (IMHO)