Hoping for a miracle

By Linda Smith Hancharick
WARWICK — On Thursday, March 22, Krista Plunkett, who works at a salon in the Village of Warwick, had a very busy day. She didn’t leave the salon except to step outside once to make a phone call.
Near the end of that long day, though, she realized that her engagement ring was missing. She knew she wore it – she’s worn it every day since Oct. 22, 2017, the beautiful fall day she and her high school sweetheart Ryan Heitman were engaged.
“It was sheer panic,” said Plunkett, 24, describing the moment she realized her ring was gone. “I didn’t leave the salon at all really, just one time I walked right outside the door to make a phone call.”
She and her coworkers looked everywhere for the missing ring. Plunkett called her mom, Pat Plunkett, who raced to the salon from their Sugar Loaf home to help.
“It had to be in the salon because she hadn’t left all day,” said Pat Plunkett. “We went through the garbage, taking out all of the gloves in there and going through them.”
Nothing.
They tore the place apart, looking in every nook and cranny.
Then they did it again on Sunday.
When they didn’t find the ring, they went to the Warwick Police to file a police report.
Their storyPlunkett and Heitman have been together since they were 16 years old. They met when they worked together at The Castle Fun Center in Chester. They dated throughout high school and in the years that followed.
In October 2017, after nearly eight years together, the couple became engaged. They are planning a spring 2019 wedding.
Plunkett chose a non-traditional engagement ring, an orange sunstone set in a simple rose gold band.
“Sunstones are comparable to the strength of diamonds,” said Plunkett. “It’s not a typical looking engagement ring. Someone wouldn’t even think it was an engagement ring.”
But it is her engagement ring, and because of the sentiment that goes along with it, Plunkett is heartbroken. She is hoping that maybe someone found it and, not recognizing the stone, might not even realize the value of it.
“I’m hoping someone may have picked it up and didn’t realize it has value,” said Plunkett. “More than the monetary value, it has sentimental value to me. I love this ring.”
A reward and much gratitudePlunkett’s message to anyone who may have been on First Street in the Village of Warwick or in the salon on March 22 and picked up the ring is to please get it back to her.
“Please return it,” said Plunkett. “I will be so grateful. I can’t put into words how much that ring means to me.”
Plunkett said a reward is being offered. Anyone who may have seen the ring or found it may call Pat Plunkett at 845-988-8092 or, if they’d rather return if anonymously, they may drop it off at the Warwick Police Department on Kings Highway. No questions asked.
“It is possible someone picked it up and had no idea it had value or was someone’s engagement ring,” said Plunkett. “I want them to know it does have value, and sentimental value. That is what I’m hoping.”