The Case of the Stolen Class Ring
When her husband was transferred to Australia more than a decade ago, Annie Hinkley had no idea she would one day experience a terrifying robbery. In 2004, while out to dinner for the evening, jewelry and other personal items were stolen from their home while their young son and babysitter were present. The crime was not solved, more than ten years passed, and the Hinkley family was transferred
again and returned to the US.
In 2013, however, Mrs. Hinkley was contacted by police in Australia who indicated they had captured a robber and obtained a significant stash of jewelry. She returned to Australia and recovered 8 pieces of their missing pieces, including her husband’s class ring from his high school in upstate New York. While there the police asked for her assistance as they had found another American class ring, this one from Marlington High School, class of 1971, with the inscription “AP”.
That ring, like her husband’s, was found by Australian police when they recovered jewelry from robberies that occurred in Australia between 2004 and 2010. The Hinkley’s presumed the graduate, like them, was living in Australia during that time and was the victim of a robbery. She found Marlington district information of the internet, contacted the school who referred her to MAA president, Vondea (Bohaychyk) Sheaffer (’76).
Vondea corresponded and spoke with Mrs. Hinkley and the Australian police, but found no 1971 graduates whose initials matched the inscription. She instead found someone with the initials “AB” with a last known address in the same general region the Hinckley’s had lived. Vondea shared the address and name with the New South Wales police, and found that indeed Alan Preston Beasley (’71) had lost his ring in a
robbery some years ago. The ring was returned to Beasley who was surprised and delighted. “Getting my class ring back is of great sentimental importance to me, as my time in the USA and in particular in Alliance and Marlington High, still is one of the best experiences of my life,” shared Beasley, “and I've had plenty of
experiences!”
Super-sleuths Vondea and Annie (not a MHS alum, but now an honorary Duke!) welcome their next opportunity to solve a crime together!
When her husband was transferred to Australia more than a decade ago, Annie Hinkley had no idea she would one day experience a terrifying robbery. In 2004, while out to dinner for the evening, jewelry and other personal items were stolen from their home while their young son and babysitter were present. The crime was not solved, more than ten years passed, and the Hinkley family was transferred
again and returned to the US.
In 2013, however, Mrs. Hinkley was contacted by police in Australia who indicated they had captured a robber and obtained a significant stash of jewelry. She returned to Australia and recovered 8 pieces of their missing pieces, including her husband’s class ring from his high school in upstate New York. While there the police asked for her assistance as they had found another American class ring, this one from Marlington High School, class of 1971, with the inscription “AP”.
That ring, like her husband’s, was found by Australian police when they recovered jewelry from robberies that occurred in Australia between 2004 and 2010. The Hinkley’s presumed the graduate, like them, was living in Australia during that time and was the victim of a robbery. She found Marlington district information of the internet, contacted the school who referred her to MAA president, Vondea (Bohaychyk) Sheaffer (’76).
Vondea corresponded and spoke with Mrs. Hinkley and the Australian police, but found no 1971 graduates whose initials matched the inscription. She instead found someone with the initials “AB” with a last known address in the same general region the Hinckley’s had lived. Vondea shared the address and name with the New South Wales police, and found that indeed Alan Preston Beasley (’71) had lost his ring in a
robbery some years ago. The ring was returned to Beasley who was surprised and delighted. “Getting my class ring back is of great sentimental importance to me, as my time in the USA and in particular in Alliance and Marlington High, still is one of the best experiences of my life,” shared Beasley, “and I've had plenty of
experiences!”
Super-sleuths Vondea and Annie (not a MHS alum, but now an honorary Duke!) welcome their next opportunity to solve a crime together!