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Ring with 'such a story' returned to mother
Joseph A. Garcia / Star staff Mari Luyet of Moorpark holds a recently returned school ring that had belonged to her son, who died nearly 16 years ago.
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More from Local NewsA ring once worn and then lost by a son before his death almost 16 years ago has been returned to a Moorpark woman, who called it a priceless remembrance of her son.
The ring was found several years ago by children playing in a park in Moorpark. It was returned earlier this month to Mari Luyet after an alert school district employee recognized it once belonged to Luyet's son Tyrone Camacho.
It was a call Luyet never expected to receive.
"I was stunned and speechless. That ring has such a story behind it, and it was a hard thing to have to face again," she said.
Luyet said the school ring was purchased in 1989 when Tyrone was a senior at Moorpark High School. Tyrone told his mom he temporarily gave the ring with the topaz stone to his girlfriend.
"I kept on asking him when he was going to get it back, and he kept on telling me, Mom, you're making too much of it' and that eventually he would get it back," Luyet said. "I eventually just let it go. I never thought of the ring again until I got the phone call a couple weeks ago that it was found."
After her son graduated from high school, he attended Moorpark College, where he was an honor roll student, played football and also worked as a security guard, she said.
"He had everything going for him," said Luyet, who is divorced from Tyrone's father.
But, she said, Tyrone was saddened over a breakup with his girlfriend, and on April 12, 1992, he committed suicide at the age of 21. He left a letter for his mom explaining why he ended his life.
"He was brokenhearted. That was his reason. It was very hard as his mom to hear that," she said, between tears.
Luyet said she can only speculate how the ring ended up in the field where it was found. The children who found the ring gave it to their grandfather, Teodoro Fuentes, who kept it in a jewelry box for several years. Fuentes' daughter, Elena Fuentes of Moorpark, said her father always wanted to find the owner of the ring, but health issues delayed him from doing so. He died in the fall and she came across the ring after sorting through his belongings.
Elena Fuentes called the high school and then the Moorpark Unified School District, where employee Delpha Owens recognized Tyrone's name engraved on the ring. She contacted Luyet at work at Walnut Canyon School.
When Fuentes gave Luyet the ring, both of them prayed, cried and hugged.
"It was just in my heart to give it back to the family it belonged to. I just hope it helped heal her broken heart," Fuentes said.
Luyet said while the pain still lingers over her son's death, she is thankful she has the ring back. It now hangs from a necklace she wears.
"I believe Tyrone wanted me to have the ring. I can't have him, but I have his ring. I definitely believe it was God's doing and a sign that Tyrone is still with me forever," she said.
Posted by Ms_California on March 28, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad, so many broken hearts in this story. I am happy that the ring is back where it belongs.
Posted by SocalJen08 on March 28, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is such an amazing story it made me cry. God works in mysterious ways. I'm sure her son did want her to have the ring back because he knew it meant alot to her. God Bless this family.
Posted by Metalhaid on March 28, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow. You don't often hear of such tragedy with a 'happy' ending like this (outside of the movies.) How wonderful that gal was to return the ring. Hopefully the mom will find a small measure of peace now. It's also nice to think of the grandpa who had the ring being in Heaven and telling the young man he had it...and now his mom has it.
Posted by krzyleo4u on March 28, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love to hear stories so amazing like this one. god bless all people in this story
Posted by TraciMarie on March 28, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonderful Story ... Thanks So Much !!!
Posted by rcamacho on March 28, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is my sister in law Maria, and the ring belonged to my dear nephew Tyrone. I thank the Lord that the ring finally made it home.
Sometimes God does work in mysterious ways and Tyrone just wanted his mom to have the ring back..
We will see you soon, Ty...
Your uncle thinks about you often.
Posted by 805m0mma on March 28, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so glad to hear a good story for once...brought tears to my eyes...what are the chances of this happening!
Posted by spokenit on March 29, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now this is worth reading, although it is sad about Tyrone. He had a hand in bringing his ring back to his mom.
Posted by ecarson1958 on March 29, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so sad to read of the sons' passing. It was such a wonderful thing that the ring was returned to the mother to be cherished. The story of him choosing to move on is really an unfinished life. Only because of a broken heart. I wish he would have thought of the broken hearts that he was going to leave by his choice. I have and I'm sure others have had the same thought as Mark did. What kept me from moving on was the thought of those I left behind. My children would never have been born. That alone is what young people need to think about before the wrong choice is made. Why did the young girl the other day make her choice? The girl on the railroad tracks. More time has to be spent educating the young children of our generation about the terrible choice they make that can never be taken back.
Posted by Sharibaby on April 5, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've got tears reading this! Ty was like a brother to me. He had such a sweet spirit. I remember the issue w/ this ring. I thought it was long gone. I know in my heart Ty brought this ring back to you, Mom.
Love and miss you!
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