Lost class ring returned to East Tenn. family 24 years after son's death

MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) - An East Tennessee family feels like they have part of their lost loved one back after nearly a quarter of a century.

Dennis Lail says his son Chris was killed in a car crash in June 1994, just before he was set to begin his senior year at Greenback High School where he played football and baseball.

"He was loved by so many at his school. His coach loved him, the players, teachers, etc. Just a good kid," said Dennis Lail.

Chris Lail lost his class ring shortly before the accident, but Dennis Lail says a neighbor using a metal detector recently came across the ring, but had no idea who it belonged to. When he showed it to Chris Lail's sister Jackee, she broke down in tears because she knew whose it was.

The family thought they would never again see the ring, which was found only about 200 feet from their property.

"No one can understand what this ring means to us all," said Dennis Lail.