https://TheRingFinders.com/Christina.McCree

The Ring Finders - Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville, AL (2025)

01/01/2025

Here are the smiles I found in 2024! 7 items found -- 5 rings, 1 earring, and 1 cellphone. All praise and glory to God! 🙏 Happy New Years to all and God Bless!!!

01/01/2025

I’m in Tampa Bay, Florida visiting my parents at their beach condo for New Years week. My dad and I were out metal detecting at one of the local beaches yesterday (December 30th, 2024). I was detecting on the wet sand along the shoreline when a gentleman flagged me down. He told me that his wife, Lisa, had just lost her cellphone in the dry sand. They tried raking their hands and feet through the sand, but couldn’t find it. A couple next to them suggested using a metal detector… and they just so happened to spot me metal detecting, lol. Talk about right place, right time! I told him that I’d be more than happy to help.

We walked over and I met Lisa. I asked the usual questions including how her cellphone was lost. Lisa knew she had it on her when her family was moving their beach cart, towels, etc. closer to the shoreline. It was a fairly small area to search with a metal detector, but it would be nearly impossible to find Lisa’s cellphone without one. Her cellphone case is also a tan/sand color, so it easily blends in.

I asked Lisa for the outer boundaries and I setup a visual grid. I cleared the main area in about 5-10 minutes with my Minelab Equinox 900. Her family was digging a hole in the new area, so they picked up the toys and moved the beach cart out of the way. I started searching the new area and got a good jumpy signal near the hole where the cart was. I used my fingers to search the sand (I didn’t want to use my sand scoop and risk damaging Lisa’s cellphone). I quickly felt and saw an outline of a cellphone! We had found it! I picked up the cellphone and held it in the air to show the group. I gave Lisa a big hug and everyone around us began cheering. Lisa was so happy and relieved to have her phone back! We have so many photo memories and other personal things on a cellphone that we just can’t get back if it’s lost forever.

I talked with Lisa for a few minutes and she told me that her family is from Ohio. They were in town for a wedding and decided to add a few days to their trip so they could go to the beach. I was so happy that I was at that beach on that particular day and time. Lisa said that getting her cellphone back really made her day/year. I told her that it really made mine as well. I give all praise and glory to God!

10/29/2024

Jessie’s testimonial and photo:

A needle in a haystack! I lost my wedding ring while canoeing on the Buffalo River. This ring wasn't just any ring; it was my grandmother's engagement ring and my husband's grandmother's wedding band soldered together. I was devastated when I lost it. By the grace of God, I stumbled upon Ringfinders and found Christina McCree. She responded immediately and was ready to help me find it! She traveled and went on an 8-mile kayak trip to help me find it in freezing cold water. She was patient and kind, and like a superhero, she found my ring!!! It was truly an answered prayer. I highly recommend reaching out to her if you're a fool like me and accidentally lose your wedding ring!

Jessie’s sister’s story (she’s hoping to get it published in the local newspaper):

An answered prayer and miracle for sure! Ring finder, Christina McCree, comes to the rescue and helps a couple recover a lost wedding ring and family heirloom in the Buffalo River in Tennessee.
Four friends set out for a fun filled day at Crazy Horse Canoes. The peaceful serenity of an autumn afternoon was shattered for Jessie Camp, when the beloved symbol of her marriage slipped from her finger and vanished into the waters below. What began as a joyful day of canoeing with friends quickly spiraled into a heart-wrenching loss.

On that fateful day, Jessie and husband Todd were canoeing down the buffalo river, their laughter echoing among friends as they paddled blissfully downstream. The tight-knit group had come together to celebrate the beauty of nature—a moment filled with joy, camaraderie, and the thrill of outdoor adventure. However, as the current picked up, their less experienced friends struggled to stay afloat and flipped their canoe. Jessie and Todd knew they had to go back and help them. They found a place for their canoe and without thinking swam upstream to help their friends.

By the time Jessie and Todd made it upstream, their friends canoe was sunk lodged under a tree. They tried for about an hour to recover it. With no luck, they knew they were going to have to navigate the last 7 miles with only 1 canoe.

We knew we all couldn't fit in the canoe, so Jessie, being most comfortable in the water, gave up her spot in the canoe. And the four friends came up with a plan. The two in the water were to stick together and hold the back of the canoe so nobody got left behind. The plan was working pretty good until they came across strong current and David the friend in the water hit a rock and let go of the canoe taking Jessie with him.

In an instant fighting current and rocks, the ring Jessie had worn almost every single day since her wedding—a unique piece meticulously crafted from her and Todds grandmother’s rings—slipped from her finger and disappeared among the swirling currents and submerged rocks. Jessie’s heart sank, as she desperately tried to recover her ring but was being pulled downstream by the current.

"My heart was shattered," she recalled, her voice trembling with emotion. "The ring was irreplaceable. It was a part of our family’s legacy, a connection to both of our grandparents. I felt like I had lost a piece of my past."

Despite her devastation, Jessie turned her focus back to her friends, ensuring they all made it safely down river before dark. The experience was bittersweet; the joy of helping her friends was overshadowed by her grief. Days turned into weeks, and Jessie was unable to shake the feeling of loss as she returned to everyday life without the ring that had been a constant reminder of her love.

On her anniversary, she was determined to find her ring! Jessie and husband Todd, made the decision to return to the Buffalo River with a professional ring finder, Christina McCree, equipped with an underwater metal detector, hopeful yet aware of the chances of actually finding the ring. It was going to be a needle in the haystack situation. The friendly Crazy Horse Canoe staff helped educate them on the river and where abouts the forks were as they recalled losing it at a fork in the river with current.

The couple and ring finder embarked on their mission hearts filled with a cocktail of anxiety and hope. Hours passed as they scoured the riverbed, weeds swaying gently above the water’s surface, the search proving both exhausting and exhilarating. We knew if we could just pinpoint the exact location, the chances of finding it would increase greatly.

With two unsuccessful searches, we went up river, and Todd was confident he finally found the right spot! Just a few minutes into the search at that location, excitement erupted as the metal detector beeped, signaling the potential of a treasure unearthed. Christina pulled out her pinpoint detector, moments later, she lifted her hand with a smile on her face, cradling the lost ring that had captured Jessie's heart so long ago.

“I could hardly believe it when she handed it to me,” Jessie recounted, tears of joy glistening in her eyes. “It felt like a miracle to have it back. The ring was tucked away under a rock, covered in moss, "We would have never found it without Christina, God, and the Crazy Horse Canoe staff. I am beyond thankful for them for my answered prayer.

The couple stood hand in hand, gazing at her ring, laughter spilling forth as they celebrated this incredible moment. Jessie understood that the ring represented far more than just a piece of jewelry; it was a symbol of her family’s love, resilience, and the unexpected joy of life’s twists and turns.

As they made their way home, the couple realized that love is not only about holding on but also about letting go and trusting that sometimes, miracles happen when you least expect them. In a world fraught with uncertainties, their story serves as a beautiful reminder that hope and connection can sometimes be found just below the surface.

10/29/2024

On Saturday morning, October 12th, 2024, I received a text message from Jessie stating she had lost her wedding ring set a few weeks prior while canoeing the Buffalo River with Crazy Horse Recreational Park in Waynesboro, Tennessee. This is Jessie’s grandmother’s engagement ring and Jessie’s grandmother-in-law’s wedding band soldered together as one. Highly sentimental and irreplaceable. To top it off, Jessie and Todd had just celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. Crazy Horse is a 2-hour drive from where I live at in Huntsville, Alabama and the canoe/kayak float on the Buffalo is an 8-mile trip. We’d be pushing it close if we went for a search that same day. Jessie suggested that we go the following Saturday, so that we’d have plenty of time to search. I told her that sounded good, and as long as her ring was still there and she got me in the right spot, our chances of finding it were very good.

I packed up all the gear I would need for a shallow water search on Friday evening. Jessie said she was floating when she felt her ring slip off, so she thought the water was about 2-3 feet deep. Jessie had been canoeing with her husband, Todd and two of their good friends. Their friends hit some rough water and flipped. Jessie and Todd helped get them to safety, but their canoe was completely sunk. So, the four friends had to share one canoe for the remainder of the trip (about 5 miles). Jessie volunteered to float outside of the canoe, while holding on to her friend. About a mile downstream, her friend caught his body on something, which caused him to let go of Jessie. That’s when she felt her ring come off.

I met Jessie and Todd at Crazy Horse a little after 10am on Saturday, October 19th. It had now been 4 weeks since Jessie’s yellow gold wedding ring set was lost. The three of us decided to rent single rider kayaks for this 8-mile trip. Crazy Horse was very accommodating and tried their best to help Jessie and Todd pinpoint the spot where her ring came off. The loss happened at one of the bends, but a lot of those areas can look similar, and it had been raining that day. We didn’t have any rain since, so the water level probably dropped making it even harder to pinpoint the exact area. We decided that we would stop and search at all potential areas, because once we passed it, we wouldn’t be able to paddle back upstream.

We loaded up in Crazy Horse’s transportation van and they took us up 8-miles to the put-in area. We got all of my gear and coolers loaded up in our kayaks and we were on our way down the Buffalo! Jessie and Todd felt that the first spot we stopped at to search wasn’t the area of loss, but we wanted to make sure. We were able to clear it in about 30 minutes and we were back on our way. Jessie thought her friends had flipped their canoe at one spot, but it ended up being further downstream than she thought. We saw two other kayaks get caught at an area and then Jessie said that spot was the correct area where their friends canoe flipped and sunk. The area the ring was lost would be about another mile downstream.
We came up to the second search area. Jessie really felt that this was where she lost her ring. The water depth ranged from ankle to waist deep and was pretty chilly. We had a cold front move in during the week, but thankfully it was warm and sunny that day. Plus, I had on my wetsuit bottoms, so the water wasn’t too bad. We spent about an hour searching, but I only found 2 pieces of trash. Jessie really felt like this was the area, but based on my search, I felt pretty confident that her ring wasn’t there. I said that maybe it was further down river. Jessie marked that spot on her phone and reluctantly continued on. We floated about a half mile further and we started getting a little discouraged, thinking, “maybe that was the spot?”

However, we soon came up to another area that looked like it could be it. Todd then stated confidently, “Jess, right there is where you said you lost your ring.” That area had some small rapids leading into a bend on the right side. Jessie thought Todd could be right.

There was nowhere to dock our kayaks, so Todd stayed with them on the left side. The water was about ankle deep (may have changed over the 4 weeks). I began searching at the top of the river going down to the bend. I had just made my way passed the spot Todd thought it was at, then I got a solid 29 on my Minelab Equinox 900. I couldn’t see anything, even after using my foot to brush away debris. I took out my Garret pinpointer and soon found the target. Completely tucked under moss, and covered by tiny rocks and dirt (never would’ve found it without a detector) emerged a ring! At first, I thought this wasn’t it until I turned it around and saw the diamonds gleaming back at me. It was 2 gold rings soldered together. This had to be it! Todd said, “I think she has it!” Jessie walked over with tears in her eyes and confirmed that was her ring. She almost couldn’t believe it. She gave me a big hug and we celebrated! I raised my metal detector to the sky and said, “thank you, God!”

We talked about the chances of finding a ring after it was lost for 4 weeks in an 8-mile stretch of river while it was raining. We decided that it had to be a miracle. And, both Jessie’s and Todd’s grandmothers were watching and smiling over us. After some reflection, we got back in our kayaks and were able to enjoy the remaining 5 miles of the Buffalo float knowing that we had what we came for.

Once we got back to Crazy Horse, we took some pictures, and I handed Jessie some of my business cards. We said our farewells. Jessie and Todd went to dinner, and I got on the road to head home to Huntsville. I had some of my mom’s slow cooker turkey BBQs and home fried potatoes waiting on me. By the time I made it home, this trip turned out to be an 11-hour adventure. Definitely well worth it to help someone find their irreplaceable family heirloom wedding rings and to see that smile! 😊

I give all praise and glory to God for this successful search. He has definitely blessed me with the means to go on these adventures and make these recoveries – truck, gear, detectors, and skills/works. Plus, I have the faith. Also, a huge thank you to the Crazy Horse staff! Highly recommend their canoe/kayak service and that beautiful float on the Buffalo River. I think I’ll always remember this ring search adventure as “the Mircale on the Buffalo”. Until the next one, please take care and God bless!

06/05/2024

On Thursday (May 30th, 2024), I received a call from Chase stating he lost his tungsten wedding band on Monday, which was his 2-year wedding anniversary. He had taken the ring off and put it in his pocket while doing the dishes. Afterwards, he put 2 sets of keys in his pocket and went outside. He took out one set of keys in front of his RV, and then took out the other set in-front of his car. He later remembered the ring in his pocket, but it was gone. We were both available on Sunday, so we planned a search for that morning.

I met Chase and his wife, Lindsey, at their home in Grant, Alabama around 9am on Sunday, June 2nd. I had Chase show me where he was standing when he took out both sets of keys. Not a huge area, but enough grass to easily hide a heavy tungsten ring. I started searching at the first spot in front of the RV. I didn’t receive any good ring like targets, so I moved to the second spot. Soon after, I had a nice repeatable ring tone and could just barely see Chase’s wedding band! I called Chase and Lindsey over to see if they could spot it, but it was hard to see amongst the grass. Needless to say, Chase was very happy to have his wedding ring back!

We took some photos and chatted for a few minutes before my drive back to Huntsville. Really nice meeting these folks and always happy to help! I thank God the Father and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the successful recovery and safe travels. Until the next adventure… please take care and God bless!

05/06/2024

On Wednesday (May 1st, 2024), I received a text message from Jillian stating she had lost her engagement ring and wedding band (soldered together) on Sunday in about 4 feet of water at Kentucky Dam Beach in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. She had contacted another Ring Finder that lived closer, but she hadn’t heard back from him yet. She asked for advice on what to do. I told Jillian that if she hadn’t heard back from him by Friday, I would come out for a search. Kentucky is further than I like to travel, but I have a hard time saying no to a ring search, lol. That evening, I researched if metal detecting is allowed at the beach area. It’s not, so I called the Kentucky Dam Lodge on Thursday morning to obtain special permission. They granted me permission to metal detect for Jillian’s rings, but anything else I found would need to be turned in. I said absolutely and told them that I would be there Friday morning.

I made the 3-hour and 20-minute drive from Huntsville, AL to Gilbertsville, KY early on Friday. I stopped by the Kentucky Dam Lodge first to check in and make sure I was still good to detect. Permission was granted, so I made my way to the beach to meet Jillian and her husband, Chris.

I put on my 3mm wet suit, grabbed my Minelab Equinox 900 and long-handled Xtreme Scoops sand scoop, and got in the water. I had Jillian and Chris line me up with where Jillian had been standing. She was playing with her daughter and was tossing her in the water. On the last toss is when she felt her ring catch on to her daughter and slide off.

I started a grid search in that area. The bottom was sandy when you first walked in, but quickly turned into small sized rocks/pebbles around the 4-foot area. Over the course of an hour, I had one good sounding target in the ladies gold range, but could not get it in my scoop. There were harder packed rocks in that area, making it difficult to get a good bite with my scoop. I thought maybe it was a larger item beneath the surface, so I continued to check the area and expand my grid. I easily dug a couple of pull tabs, but nothing else.

I kept going back to that one target. Jillian really felt like it was in the area where she was standing during the loss. I tried diving to retrieve the item, but I was too buoyant to stay on the bottom. I had my diving weights in the truck, but Jillian offered to dive for the target. I lined her up with where it was, and she dove with my pinpointer and flashlight. I gently pushed her down, so she would not float back up. Teamwork makes the dream work, lol! She tried two times, but kept losing the spot. On the third try I kept my coil over the target until she was there. She instantly popped up and had the rings in her hand!! Jillian was so excited and relieved to have her rings back! I was slightly surprised, because I had so much trouble getting the item in my scoop. Nonetheless, this elusive target was what we were after, and Jillian got to make the exciting recovery!

We both got out of the water and dried off before taking pictures. I chatted with Jillian and Chris for a few minutes before I headed over to the Lodge to give them the good news and thank them again for the special permission. Today (May 5th, 2024) is Jillian’s and Chris’s 8-year wedding anniversary! It makes me so happy that Jillian has her rings back to celebrate their special day. As always, I give all glory and praise to God for the recovery and safe travels. Until the next adventure… please take care and God bless!

04/12/2024

On a beautiful Sunday morning (April 7th, 2024), I was sitting on my outdoor patio rocking chair, enjoying a cup of iced coffee, watching birds eating at my feeder and two Bluebirds tending to their birdhouse. A few minutes into my cup, I received a call from Emily stating she had lost her wedding ring. She had been in a car accident a few days prior near Pell City, Alabama. Thankfully, everyone in the accident was okay.

After the accident, Emily was standing near the wood line close to a gravel pull off point near the road. She had a flat tire and was upset about the whole situation. She lit up a cigarette and angrily threw the cigarette pack towards the woods. She felt her custom-made platinum wedding ring with multiple diamonds and her son’s birthstone fly off her finger. She had recently lost some weight, so the ring was loose fitting, but she hadn’t gotten it resized yet. Emily and her family looked for hours, raking the pine straw and even buying a metal detector, but unfortunately, didn’t find the ring. This was the ring Emily always dreamed about, constantly sharing photos with her mom, planning it for years. Emily was absolutely devastated that the ring was now gone. The sentimental value was beyond words.

Emily’s mom went on Google looking for ideas on how to find a lost ring. She came across The Ring Finders website. They (along with many others) were unaware that this metal detecting service even existed. Emily’s call to me had given her some renewed hope. I had an errand to run after lunch, but I told Emily I would be on the road as soon as I finished. Pell City was about a 2-hour drive from where I live at in Huntsville, AL.

I met Emily and her boyfriend of 17 years at a nearby Love’s Travel Stop in Pell City around 4:30pm. I followed them for about 10 minutes to the spot of the throw. Emily’s mom and father stopped by shortly after we did to watch the recovery.

I had Emily show me where she was standing and demonstrate exactly how she threw the cigarette pack. It was a sideways toss with her left hand. I had her throw one of my test rings and it went straight out near where the cigarette pack had landed. I put on my detecting belt, grabbed my Minelab Equinox 900, and started my search. I spent about 40 minutes checking the main radius of where the ring should’ve landed. I expanded out further, but came up empty handed other than the usual trash metal.

I asked Emily again about the angle of her throw. Her boyfriend had seen her throw the cigarette pack, and mentioned she had a downswing at the end. I know that rings can land at a person’s feet or even go behind them, so I expanded the search in that direction. The search area was now on the gravel road of the pull off point. I was still detecting and visually inspecting the gravel area. I was making my way towards the left side, when my eye caught a glimpse of a large and gorgeous platinum ring laying amongst the gravel. I quickly spun around facing Emily and her mom; with a huge smile on my face, and said, “we got it!!!” They almost couldn’t believe it, lol. Emily and her mom both ran over and gave me the biggest hugs, thank you’s, and praised the Lord. The excitement, celebration, and relief were again, beyond words. Truly, one of the greatest feelings.

The ring was slightly bent and had some scuff marks on the band, so it had been driven over. But fortunately, all the stones were still there. There was one diamond that was loose, so I gave Emily a baggie to keep it in until it could be repaired. Everyone couldn’t believe how far this ring actually flew and the odd direction it went. The last picture I included shows a dot where Emily was standing when she threw the pack and an “X” where the ring landed.

We chatted for a few minutes, took some pictures, and I was back on the road to go grab a bite to eat and then head home to Huntsville.

This ring is my 50th item recovered since I joined The Ring Finders on August 25th, 2018. It’s been such a blessing helping others and it really provides me so much purpose in life. I give all glory to God and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And a big thank you to my husband, Lindell, for allowing me to go on all of these fun and exciting adventures, lol. I look forward to going on many, many more.

Until the next one… please take care, God bless, and I love you all!

03/09/2024

On Saturday morning (February 24th, 2024), I received a call from Susan stating her husband, George, had done it again! George lost his gold wedding band a second time while working in the mulch beds. George is now my second repeat client. He had lost his ring in March 2023 doing the same thing and had used my metal detecting service to find it. Susan told George that she thought they could find it, but George said no, we’re calling Christina, lol. Thanks for trusting my service! I was free the rest of the day, so I got ready, grabbed my gear, and headed out to meet George at his home in Huntsville, Alabama.

I met George about an hour and a half after Susan’s call. He showed me the area he had been working in that morning. He said he didn’t think it was cold enough for his ring to slip off, but then said he guessed he was wrong. The area was pretty small, and George knew he had the ring on when he started. I had my notes from the last time I found George’s ring. It was a 25 on the Nox 900, so I knew exactly what I was looking for. I got out my Minelab Equinox 900 and started my search. About 2 minutes in, I had a shallow 25 beeping on my metal detector. I told George, “I think we have it!” I bent down, moved a piece of shrubbery, and there was George’s gold wedding band! Thank you, Lord God!!!

George was so thankful to have it back! I told him that I enjoy seeing him, but hopefully there won’t be a third time under these circumstances, lol. We took some photos, and I was on my way home. This actually might’ve been my quickest recovery. I think it was under 2 minutes. It definitely makes up for the longer, tougher searches. Looking forward to the next adventure…

01/29/2024

On Wednesday evening (January 17th, 2024), I received a call from Amy stating she had lost her white gold and diamond stud earring (which was a gift from her husband) while shoveling snow from the driveway of her home in Franklin, Tennessee. On Sunday night into Monday evening, Tennessee and Alabama received a snow and ice storm along with artic temperatures that put the area out of commission for about a week. I told Amy that I would make it out for a search once the roads were clear and I had time off from my normal day job. It wouldn’t be until Sunday (January 28th), that I could safely travel the 1.5-hour drive to Amy’s house.

I met Amy at her home in Franklin, TN around 2pm on Sunday. Outside, was a brisk 42 degrees Fahrenheit with no sunshine and occasional drizzle. Since this earring was a stud, I was worried about the amount of metal and whether I could get a reading on my detector. Amy had her second earring, so I scanned it with my Minelab Equinox 900 with the 6” coil. I didn’t get a signal in any of the Park or Gold modes. I then checked the earring with my Garrett Pro-Pointer AT and Nokta AccuPOINT pinpointers. I received a reading on both, but the Nokta had the stronger signal. I planned to use that pinpointer to scan the sides of the driveway. This was definitely going to be a tough search considering how small the earring was, how large the driveway was, and that I had to use an almost 10-inch handheld metal detector.

I had Amy tell me exactly what happened. Amy shoveled her driveway in two sections. First was the steep driveway and the second was the steps to the house and outside the garage. After finishing the first section of the driveway, Amy went inside the house to re-layer, and she put on a sweater. She said she felt the sweater tug on her earring. She went back outside and finished the second section. Amy said the earring backing was still on her ear when she went back inside the house, but the stud was gone. Since fingers shrink when they are cold, I felt her ear shrunk when she went outside, plus the earring was loosened up from the sweater, so I decided to start my search in the second section of the shoveled driveway.

I had Amy show me one more time how far she shoveled in the second section by the garage and steeper part of the driveway. We were walking over, and Amy exclaimed, “there it is!” Amy had eyeballed her own earring laying in plain sight on the driveway! Amy told me that she couldn’t believe it because her husband had checked the entire driveway. He even used a flashlight at night, hoping the diamond would gleam back. Thankfully, the earring was not run over by a car and damaged, or even caught in the tire tread and driven away. Amazing! We celebrated for a few minutes, took some photos, and then I was on my way back to Huntsville, AL.

Maybe it was the heavy rain or wind that moved the earring into plain sight that day. Or maybe and what I truly believe – is that it was divine intervention and the power of prayer. I always pray before I leave for a search and when I get home. I ask that the Holy Spirit guide me to the person’s lost item and then I praise God, the Father when it is found and give Him all the glory. Truly a blessing being a member of Chris Turner’s The Ring Finders and getting to go on these adventures. Looking forward to the next search…

12/31/2023

The most fulfilling thing I do is helping people find their lost items. Here are the smiles I found in 2023! All praise and glory to God! 🙏 Looking forward to what 2024 has in store. Happy New Year and God Bless!!!

The Ring Finders - Huntsville, Alabama

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