Man finds $750 cashier's check in Third Ward, tracks down rightful owner

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Jonathan Tureau was sitting inside his car outside his Galleria-area apartment Sunday when he says he was carjacked. He says two men put a gun to his head, then his chest, demanding he get out of his car. Tureau says they got in and drove away with his wallet, his cell phone, important car registration documents, and a $750 cashier's check for Tureau's rent.

"Basically, my entire life has been in shambles for the past 24 hours and then this awesome gentleman called me," Tureau told abc13.

The "awesome gentleman" is a man named Lezell Coby.

PHOTOS: Man finds missing money, returns it to rightful owner

Coby rides his bike around the Third Ward selling newspapers. On Sunday, he saw a bunch of papers on the ground on Hadley Street near downtown. He stopped when he realized the papers looked important.

Jonathan Tureau's name was printed on them.

"So I decided to hang onto it and give him a call," Coby said.

He tracked down Tureau's number and called him on his cell to tell him he had found some important documents.

"I didn't expect to see any of this again," Tureau said.

Monday afternoon, the two met at a gas station, and Coby gave Tureau everything he found, including that $750 check.

"It's very weird having your entire life going for you and in the blink of an eye have it taken away. It also shows you how a random stranger can lift you back up in the worst of times," Tureau said.

Police have since found Tureau's car. It's also been returned to him.

Lezell, who says he's been down on his luck recently, never thought of keeping the money. He knew it belonged to someone else.

"I hope somebody will do the same thing for me one day," he said.

The two say they plan to keep in touch.