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BRIGHAM CITY — What would you do if you found a wallet and no one was around to see you take it or leave it? Would you keep the money? Or would you try to find the owner? One Utah woman was faced with this dilemma when she found a wallet with $1,000 cash inside.
On Aug. 20, Nashlah Bayayan stopped at the Phillips gas station in Brigham City.
“I went to the bathroom and noticed a wallet sitting there. I grabbed it, naturally looked inside and saw $1,000 in $100 bills just sitting there tucked away,” said Bayayan.
Bayayan says she was tempted to pocket the money but decided against it. She took to Facebook and Google to track down the owner. Finally, the search landed her on a family blog that connected her to Jessie Wengert.
Wengert had recently arrived home from serving a mission in Birmingham, England. Her parents had given her $1,000 to help her financially until she could find work. Wengert was on her way to Utah State University for fall semester when she stopped at the Phillips gas station.
“I remember going to the bathroom and leaving and not really thinking about it,” said Wengert.
She then drove to the Wells Fargo in Logan where she discovered her wallet was missing.
It was a really humbling experience, just reminded me that there are good people in the world.
–Jessie Wengert
“I don’t even know if I’m going to be able to go to school this semester, like I might have to move back home again,” said Wengert.
Wengert called her parents to tell them she lost the money. Wengert says they were supportive, but she still felt terrible. Within 40 minutes, she received a call from her sister.
“This lady named Nash just messaged me and says she has your wallet, and I’m like what’s her number? Let me call her,” said Wengert.
Wengert drove to Murray to meet Bayayan. At a bakery, Bayayan gave Wengert her wallet and every last dollar.
“It was a really humbling experience, just reminded me that there are good people in the world,” said Wengert.
