Pants gone, cash gone, a doggone lucky guy

Last update: September 1, 2007 - 6:49 PM

WAUKESHA, WIS. - It was embarrassing enough that Mark Stahnke woke up in a neighbor's yard without his pants. But the trousers held a cashier's check for $41,093 meant for his son, and several hundred dollars in cash.

But he got it all back on Friday, including the pants, thanks to an honest citizen.

Stahnke said he doesn't know what happened between when he left the bar and when he woke up the next morning, and police were skeptical when he filed a report on Monday.

"We're used to hearing weird stories, but with his intoxication we figured this one would be different, that the amount of money wouldn't be exact," Waukesha Police Lt. William Graham said. "How do you get so intoxicated that you lose your pants?"

Stahnke said he met his son at a local bar, and doesn't remember much afterward.

"I woke up cold not knowing where the heck I was, and I didn't realize it at first because I still had my shoes and socks on," he said. "When I got up, I realized, my God, I don't have any pants."

Tim Curzan's dog, Joe, found the pants at a nearby intersection, according to a police report. Curzan went through the pockets after hearing change rattle and removed the soggy contents, but left the pants behind.

After the contents dried, Curzan found the cashier's check and tried twice, unsuccessfully, to deliver the items to where he thought the owner lived.

On Wednesday, the pants were still at the intersection, so Curzan picked them up and took them to the police, who contacted Stahnke to claim his items.

ASSOCIATED PRESS