Pendant Discovered During Annual Florida Python Roundup

During an annual hunt for pythons in the Florida Everglades, a hunter discovered an artifact that may be a remnant from one of two aircraft accidents which occurred in the area over the past 40 years.

Mark Rubenstein of Coral Springs, FL, found a piece of antique gold jewelry while searching the swamp in February for Burmese Pythons, a large snake that has become an invasive species in the Florida Everglades. Television station WTVJ reports that Rubenstein was searching in an area where two airliners have gone down in the past 41 years: Eastern Airlines Flight 401 in 1972, and ValuJet Flight 592 in 1996.

The pendant is described as being antique gold studded with diamonds and sapphires. Rubenstein said he caught "a glint in the late day sun" as he was out python hunting. The gold is thought to be from the 18th century, but its estimated market value is only about $150. The pendant is melted on one side, which would be consistent with the scenarios of either accident.

Rubenstein put the pendant in the hands of a south Florida jeweler, who placed photos of the piece online. The jeweler, Robert Moorman, owner of Carroll's Jewelers in Fort Lauderdale, FL, says he has received an inquiry from someone who may know a surviving family member of a passenger who owned the piece and was on board the ValuJet plane when it went down.

Rubenstein said he hopes that he is able to return the piece to someone that could help bring some closure from the accident.

(Everglades image from file)

FMI: www.carrollsjewelry.com/