Boys Turned In $4,000, But Now Their Money Is Missing

By MICHELE SAGER The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jun 5, 2007

TAMPA - Two Greco Middle School students became instant heroes five years ago when they found and returned $4,000 in missing cash.

Now, they are trying to solve their own case of missing money.

In February 2002, Jarvarious Jones and Oscar Carter, then 13, found four envelopes stuffed with cash near their bus stop and turned in the money to authorities.

The boys' good deed brought them national attention. People showered them with praise, gifts and money. Now they are old enough to collect some of that donated cash put away in a bank account, but no one can find it.

The boys received many rewards immediately following the incident in 2002. The owner of the lost money gave gifts and cash. Local politicians awarded all sorts of accolades. Without Walls International Church set aside about $10,000 in scholarship money. Business leaders donated bicycles and sporting event tickets. The boys threw out the first pitch at a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game and met the Florida governor twice.

The Money Rolled In

As their story went national, people from across the country sent money to the school to reward the boys. Jones and Carter were told the money would be placed in a trust fund and could be withdrawn when they turned 18.

They are now 18 and want to collect that money. But Carter's mother, Keisha Hamilton, said she can't get answers as to where the money is.

"We've been trying since February to find out where the account was set up and no one will help us or tell us anything," she said.

Hamilton said that when she contacted Greco and school district officials, they repeatedly told her they would get back to her. She said she couldn't go to any banks because she didn't know whose name was on the account.

Carter, who now takes classes at Florida Metropolitan University, said he sometimes wishes he hadn't turned in the cash.

"I could have used that money to get clothes, pay some bills and help my family," he said. "But I did the right thing and now people aren't helping me. I've learned not to trust anyone."

'That's Usually Not Our Role'

Hamilton said Patricia Cooper, Greco's assistant principal, handled all the money that came in and promised to set up the account. Cooper said she did receive cash and checks, some made out in her name, but did not set up the account. She said she handed the money over to then-Principal Deborah Rodgers.

Rodgers, who now works in the school district's downtown offices, said she knows nothing about the account and said Cooper handled the matter. Rodgers said it's unlikely the school district would have set up an account.

"That's not something we typically do," she said. "That's usually not our role."

Cooper said the delay in finding the money was because she was dealing with an illness in her family for the past six months. She said she believes an account does exist.

"I've had a lot to deal with in my personal life, but I'm looking for a file that may contain that account information," she said.

Cooper estimates about $400 was sent to each boy. Hamilton said Cooper in 2002 told her $1,000 was used to start the accounts.

Cooper said the family might be confusing donations sent in by the public with the scholarship promised by Without Walls International Church.

Jeff Tucker, public relations representative for Without Walls, acknowledged about $10,000 total has been set aside for the boys to use for school.

Hamilton said she wasn't aware of the amount in the church account but was pleased to learn about it.

Greco's current principal, Judith Kennedy, who didn't work at the school in 2002, said school officials hope to find the money.

"We want to find it as much as they do; it's just that this happened five years ago and we really don't know who took the initiative to set up the account," she said.

Temple Terrace Police Chief Tony Velong said he has no clue which bank might have the money.

"The last time our agency had any dealings with the boys was back in 2002, when we gave them the Do the Right Thing award," Velong said.

Jones has not come forward to claim his portion of the money because he thought it was for college and he has not graduated from King High, said his grandmother, Lizzie Jones.

"We were never told where the money would be, but Jarvarious certainly wants what is coming to him," she said.

Reporter Michele Sager can be reached at (813) 865-4843 or msager@tampatrib.com.