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Memory-laden rings circle back to couple

By BRADY DENNIS
Published February 9, 2005

LUTZ - The Johnsons didn't so much care about the credit cards, the $300 in bills, the rolls of silver dollars.

Their house on the lake was burglarized on Nov. 14 - while they were in church, no less - and what they missed most were the rings. The memories, not the gold and diamonds.

There were the engagement and wedding rings that belonged to Laura Johnson's mother, who died in 1985. Looking at them always reminded the daughter of the close relationship they shared.

There was Jay Johnson's 1943 Hernando High School ring, and with it, the warm memories of his teachers there. There was Laura Johnson's 1947 Hillsborough High School ring.

Months passed.

"Truly, I had given up on recovering anything," said Laura Johnson, 76.

Then, in January, Jason Bahamonde, 21, and Elsie Vega, 26, were arrested after authorities say they tried to pawn jewelry stolen in a burglary the day before. Mixed in was other jewelry, including a 1943 Hernando High School class ring.

Detective Amy Keck traced it back to the November burglary, back to the home on the lake.

The Johnsons aren't likely to get back their stolen money, but on Tuesday, the Tampa Police Department returned their jewelry, except Laura Johnson's high school ring, which they say is in a local pawn shop and will be returned soon.

Jay Johnson, 79, slipped his 62-year-old class ring on. "I put it on his little finger; that's the only one it will fit on," his wife said, chuckling. "He's put on a little weight."

[Last modified February 9, 2005, 00:43:19]