Vault: The Ring That's Been in their Family for Years Is Missing

Summary

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The Bert Show: Vault – The Ring That's Been in their Family for Years Is Missing

Date: March 30, 2026
Cast: Jeff, Host 1, Host 2, Melissa, Chris

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Episode Overview

In this throwback “vault” episode, The Bert Show team helps a couple, Melissa and Chris, rally the local community to search for a missing family heirloom: a diamond ring lost during a 13-mile run. The ring, dating back to the 1800s and passed down through generations, holds deep sentimental value. The episode delves into the shock and heartbreak of losing such a precious item, the complications of finding it along a busy Atlanta trail, and the couple’s hope and dilemma about offering a reward—or negotiating to buy it back if it's found.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Story Behind the Missing Heirloom

• Melissa shares the emotional significance of the lost ring, originally belonging to Chris's great-grandmother from the 1800s.
  • Quote:

  "It's from the 1800s. She's old, which is why I am just so upset about this because that's something that I was looking at handing down to my kids and having them hand down to their children." (Melissa, 02:08)

• Both hosts and listeners express sympathy and understanding of the ring’s irreplaceable meaning.

2. How the Ring Was Lost

• The couple recounts the fateful run:
  • Melissa and Chris went for a 13-mile run along the Chattahoochee River Trail, looping along Collins Drive.
  • They only noticed the missing diamond at the very end while stretching, making it nearly impossible to pin down exactly where it was lost.
  • Quote:

  "We went for a 13 mile run and had it happened anywhere in the middle of run, we would have at least known the vicinity that it was in." (Melissa, 02:49) "It's a diamond literally in the rough, you know." (Chris, 03:47)

3. Reward & Ethical Dilemmas

• Discussions arise about the “finder’s fee” and insurance:
  • The couple debates how much they'd pay if someone finds and returns the diamond.
  • Melissa is eager for its return, even if it means a significant buy-back.
    • Quote:

    "I think I would like to do that, yes. Because like I said, this is from the 1800s, but it's been in Chris's family. And I just don't know if you can really put any value on that." (Melissa, 04:12)

  • Chris jokes about replacing the diamond with cubic zirconia and pocketing the insurance payout, but ultimately values its return.
    • Quote:

    "My first inclination was like cubic zirconium. You know, like, let's replace this thing. Let me pocket the 17 grand and then we'll just throw something that looks like a diamond in there. But obviously, you know, we're not going to do that." (Chris, 04:33)

4. Where to Look? – The Trail Details

• The couple provides explicit instructions on where the ring might be, complete with trail details and even an online map.
  • Chattahoochee River Trail off Interstate North Parkway, connecting to Collins Drive (in Marietta)
  • They ran out and back on both sides of the trail, making the search area daunting but specific.
  • Quote:

  "It's the Chattahoochee park right off of Interstate Parkway. There's a park on both sides of the Chattahoochee, but it's the one that connects with Collins Drive, and that's considered Marietta." (Melissa, 06:37)

5. The Emotional Toll

• The hosts comment on the heartbreak visible in the “after” photos: the ring with the large hole where the stone once was.
  • Quote:

  "The after picture... see ring on her hand with the big hole in the middle... it's a little gut wrenching." (Host 1, 08:02)

• Melissa describes the constant pangs of loss:
  • Quote:

  "There are several times during the day that I'm just like... I panic because I'm like, oh, my gosh, where's my ring? And then I realize what happened to it. And it's like a cycle that I go through several times a day." (Melissa, 08:10)

6. The Size & Value of the Diamond

• The diamond is just under two carats, cushion cut—short and fat, not flashy but deeply personal.
  • Quote:

  "If you look at the diamond itself, like, you're not gonna be like, oh, my gosh, that thing's huge. It's just the cut is a cushion cut, so it's very short and very fat." (Chris, 07:36)

7. Community Involvement & Lighthearted Moments

• Hosts encourage listeners and locals—even dog walkers—to search the trail, joking about using dogs to sniff out the setting or the diamond itself.
  • Quote:

  "If it's a situation where you take your dog out for a walk every day, head over there for sure. What are you going to lose? ...make 17 grand maybe." (Host 1, 09:21)

  • Quote:

  "Too bad you can't have a sniffing dog like sniff that setting." (Host 2, 09:35)

• Humor and camaraderie help soften the seriousness as they joke about “Motivation Row” and how unfair it would be for someone in an Atlanta mansion to stumble across the diamond by chance.

8. Call to Action

• Listeners are directed to an online map for precise search areas (q100atlanta.com).
• The hope remains that someone out there will find the diamond and choose to return it—or at least reach out to negotiate its return.

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Notable & Memorable Quotes

• Melissa:

  "That's something that I was looking at handing down to my kids and having them hand down to their children." (02:12)

• Chris:

  "It's a diamond literally in the rough, you know." (03:47)

• Host 1:

  "The after picture... big hole in the middle... it's a little gut wrenching." (08:02)

• Melissa:

  "There are several times during the day that I'm just like... I panic because I'm like, oh, my gosh, where's my ring?" (08:10)

• Host 1:

  "What are you going to lose? ...make 17 grand maybe." (09:21)

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Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:08 | Melissa shares the ring’s origin and sentimental value | | 02:49 | Details emerge about how the ring was lost during the run| | 04:12 | Discussion about buying the diamond back if found | | 06:37 | Clear trail and search area description | | 07:36 | Description of stone's size and cut | | 08:02 | Emotional response to the 'after' ring photo | | 08:10 | Melissa on her daily panic over the missing ring | | 09:21 | Call for dog walkers and locals to help in the search |

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Summary & Takeaway

This Bert Show episode is both a call-to-action for community kindness and an emotional journey through loss, memory, and family connection. Mixing warmth, humor, and genuine empathy, the hosts support Melissa and Chris as they search for a vanished heirloom—reminding listeners that sometimes, real life is stranger (and more suspenseful) than fiction. If you’re in Atlanta and frequent the Chattahoochee River Trail, you might just be part of the story’s hopeful ending.

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Transcript

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[Jeff]

This is the Bird Show. Hi Jeff, which line do you want

[Host 1]

me to pick up? Chris is on the hotline and Julie's on the warm line.

[Jeff]

Hey, how are you guys?

[Melissa]

No complaints other than missing something?

[Jeff]

Yeah. We got to know the history of how this all happened before we even get into where the diamond is.

[Melissa]

This is a family heirloom. It was, I think, Chris's great grandmother's ring. It's from the 1800s. She's old, which is why I am just so upset about this because that's something that I was looking at handing down to my kids and having them hand down to their children.

[Host 1]

And it's not a situation where you kind of jimmied it loose in hopes of getting something a little newer and more trendy?

[Melissa]

No, not at all.

[Jeff]

At that point, you're Just you're jogging and it pops out.

[Melissa]

We went for a 13 mile run.

[Jeff]

Okay, I hope you've learned not to do that again.

[Melissa]

Maybe that's a lesson to be learned from this. But we went for a 13 mile run and had it happened anywhere in the middle of run, we would have at least known the vicinity that it was in. But it wasn't until the very end of the run and we were stretching that Chris noticed that it was on.

[Host 1]

What happens when you notice that?

[Chris]

Like, it's like looking at your wife and her front tooth fell out.

[Jeff]

So who notices? Chris, you notice that?

[Chris]

Yeah. As we were stretching, I looked down and I was like, holy cow, that is not good. And I was like, Julie, you're ring. And then that point, it's like, okay, now where do we start looking? I mean, the good part about it is even though it was 13 miles, it was an out and back. And we did do a couple loops along the columns drive area. I sent Jeff that the actual map to the area that we covered. But still, you know, it's a diamond literally in the rough, you know.

[Jeff]

Now you said that. I mean, there's sentimental value at this thing also. So are you on here saying, look, go ahead and take the ring. I mean, if you find it, it's yours. Are you saying, we'll give you $17,000 if you find for us?

[Melissa]

I personally, I would love to have that diamondback.

[Host 1]

So you would buy the ring back? You would buy the stone back from somebody who found it?

[Melissa]

I think I would like to do that, yes.

[Jeff]

This sounds like.

[Melissa]

Because like I said, this is from the 1800s, but it's been in Chris's family. And I just don't know if you can really put any value on that.

[Host 2]

Sounds like we're not on the same page.

[Melissa]

Yeah, Chris, exactly.

[Host 2]

Chris's family, though.

[Jeff]

Yeah. Chris, where are you with all that?

[Chris]

That's a lot of money. I mean, we got the insurance check and so my first inclination was like cubic zirconium. You know, like, let's replace this thing. Let me pocket the 17 grand and then we'll just throw something that looks like a diamond in there. But obviously, you know, we're not going to do that. My brother was like, dude, Chris, pocket the money, pay off your debt, go on vacation.

[Jeff]

Right. Okay. So if you're the person lucky enough really to win the golden ticket out of the Wonka bar here. Yeah, you can do anything. I mean, you could keep the ring for yourself, a diamond for yourself, or you can get in touch with Jeff, and then maybe you can have some negotiations going on. But that's a decision that you can make if you find the ring. So really what we got to do is get out what's important here. And that four mile stretch you're talking about, give us solid details on exactly where that is.

[Melissa]

It was at the Chattahoochee River Trail off of Interstate North Parkway. And it's the trail that connects with Collins drive. It's a 3.1 mile loop. And then it attaches or connects to Collins Drive, which is about a two mile, two and a half mile stretch.

[Host 2]

You guys ran 13 miles, so you did that loop a couple times.

[Melissa]

Yes. So that's the good thing.

[Host 2]

There's already a lot of athletes along this route.

[Jeff]

Slow their pace down a day, I was gonna say.

[Host 2]

So I'm curious if when people are driving up and down Collins Drive and they see like three, the amount of athletes and some that probably don't look like they've been athletic a day in their life, wonder what's going on.

[Jeff]

You know, what would be so unjust about this whole thing? Because if you jog or you drive down that road, it's the most massive homes. If it's the road that I think it is, it's the most massive, beautiful homes that you can see in Atlanta. I call it Motivation Row. When you drive down there and you see all those houses, wouldn't it be unjust if somebody in one of those houses just happened to be taking a stroll one day and already has all that cash flow, finds the diamond shiny

[Host 2]

thing in the front yard?

[Jeff]

All right, so let's be very clear on exactly where this is. One more time, you guys.

[Melissa]

It's the Chattahoochee park right off of Interstate Parkway. There's a park on both sides of the Chattahoochee, but it's the one that connects with Collins Drive, and that's considered Marietta. Yes.

[Jeff]

All right. And what Jeff has done is he's actually put a map up online right now, and it's there for you guys to check out. So if it's unclear to you exactly where it is, just go to q100atlanta.com and you'll see it right there.

[Host 2]

He brought up the fact that, you know, it has been raining a whole lot, too.

[Jeff]

So it may make it easier, may

[Host 2]

make it easier, may make it harder.

[Host 1]

Good morning.

[Jeff]

Q100.

[Chris]

What side of the trail were you guys running on? And on Collins Drive, we were on

[Melissa]

both sides because we ran out down on one side. And Back on the other.

[Chris]

Okay.

[Jeff]

So that's a very large trail to be canon.

[Chris]

Both sides to look for.

[Melissa]

Yeah. It's not gonna be telling me.

[Host 2]

I mean, if it was easy to find, they would have done that already.

[Host 1]

Good morning.

[Jeff]

Q. 100.

[Melissa]

Hey, how many carats is the diamond?

[Chris]

Just under two carats. I mean, if you look at the diamond itself, like, you're not gonna be like, oh, my gosh, that thing's huge. It's just the cut is a cushion cut, so it's very short and very fat.

[Host 1]

We have pictures. We have a before and after picture. And I have to tell you, God, that's so heartbreaking. The after picture, see ring on her hand with the big hole in the middle is a little bit. Here, I'll pull it up.

[Host 2]

Is it a little.

[Host 1]

It's a little. It's a little gut wrenching.

[Host 2]

It's like, oh, do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it?

[Melissa]

Well, I have a little tiny ring on that finger right now. And there are several times during the day that I'm just like. I panic because I'm like, oh, my gosh, where's my ring? And then I realize what happened to it. And it's like a cycle that I go through several times a day.

[Jeff]

Jen's looking at the picture online right now. Oh, with the ring, it's just a

[Chris]

hole in the middle of it.

[Jeff]

It's a bomb.

[Host 2]

The wind just got knocked out of me. All right, so that's actually what she felt. She felt wind on her finger. And she's like, wait a second. I'm not supposed to feel that right here. What's going on?

[Jeff]

So that ring is still out there, and we've got a map to sort of its whereabouts. And you can see the ring, the diamond, and the diamondless ring. And if you find it, you got a couple of things you can do with it. Either you could take the cash yourself, or you can get in touch with Jeff, and Jeff will get in touch with his friends, and maybe you guys can negotiate.

[Host 2]

There are going to be people, the people that live in those mansions that are driving out today and see all these people just stopping and looking around and looking down what's going on, because

[Jeff]

you know those people aren't listening to this show.

[Host 2]

You know what will happen? What'll happen is those people will call the police on the people that are sitting there just loitering around Collins Drive today.

[Jeff]

But, I mean, it's a classical station right now.

[Host 1]

Yeah, Seriously, if you. If it's a situation where you take your dog out for a walk every day, head over there for sure. What are you going to lose? Take that. If you're going to. You're going to spend an hour walking your dog, make 17 grand maybe.

[Host 2]

Too bad you can't have a sniffing dog like sniff that setting.

[Host 1]

Sniff the diamond.

[Host 2]

No, sniff her setting.

[Host 1]

Yeah.

[Host 2]

And see if they can't. If there's not a same scent on that diamond.

[Jeff]

Look, Melissa wants 17 grand.

[Host 2]

That's right. You getting all CSI.

[Chris]

That's right.

[Host 1]

You're going to be doing that with Katie Jo's dog.

[Host 2]

Sniff. Sniff down. She'll get distracted by a bird and run away.

[Jeff]

All right, guys, thanks a lot for joining us. And with any luck at all, the person that finds it, we'll call you guys and somehow, some way, they'll negotiate and you'll get that ring back.

[Chris]

Awesome.

[Melissa]

All right, thanks for your help.

[Host 1]

Good luck.

[Jeff]

This is the Birch Show.

[IXL Advertiser]

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