She Found $3 Million in Her Basement—Then the FBI Showed Up

When 34-year-old Emily Reeves decided to renovate the basement of her inherited family home in Rochester, New York, she expected to find old paint cans, perhaps some forgotten furniture, maybe even a spider infestation. What she didn’t expect was to discover $3 million in cash, meticulously wrapped in waterproof bundles, hidden inside a rusted-out oil drum beneath a loose floor panel.

“I thought it was garbage at first,” Emily recalled. “I mean, who hides money in an old oil drum? But then I opened one of the plastic packages and saw hundred-dollar bills—stacks of them.”

The cash, aged but intact, looked like it had been untouched for decades. Her hands shaking, Emily took photos and called her father, who had grown up in the house but had moved out in the '90s. “He was just as shocked as I was,” she said.

What started as a simple home improvement project soon spiraled into a national story, involving decades-old secrets, whispered rumors, and eventually, the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

A Quiet Neighborhood With a Loud Past

The house, built in the late 1940s, had belonged to Emily’s late grandparents, Frank and Lillian Reeves. According to neighbors, Frank was a quiet man who worked as a security guard at a local bank and “kept to himself.” But one elderly neighbor recalled something strange.

“There were always rumors,” said 81-year-old Mrs. Langley, who’s lived next door since 1962. “We all knew Frank was honest—or we thought he was. But after the armored truck robbery in ’78, some folks whispered.”

That robbery, it turns out, might be the key.

The 1978 Armored Truck Heist—Still Unsolved

In November 1978, an armored truck carrying over $6 million was hijacked just a few miles from where Emily’s home now stands. While several suspects were arrested, only a fraction of the money was ever recovered. The FBI closed the case in the early '90s, believing the remainder of the cash had been destroyed or smuggled out of the country.

Until now.

When Emily posted a photo of the cash online—“just to get advice,” she says—she got more than she bargained for. Within 48 hours, the FBI contacted her. By the end of the week, agents were at her door with gloves, scanners, and briefcases.

“They were surprisingly polite,” Emily said. “But they were very clear: the money might be tied to an unsolved federal crime, and I wasn’t allowed to keep any of it—not yet.”

Legal Limbo—and a Family Divided

While the investigation remains ongoing, legal experts say Emily may be entitled to a finder’s fee or even partial ownership, depending on the case outcome and any statute of limitations.

Her uncle, however, isn’t so optimistic—or supportive.

“He says I should’ve kept my mouth shut,” Emily admitted. “But that’s not who I am. If this money belongs to victims or is tied to a crime, I want it sorted out.”

Still, not everyone agrees. Local opinion has been split, with some calling her “brave,” and others suggesting she “just gave away millions.”

The Investigation Continues

As of now, the FBI has confirmed that the serial numbers on some of the recovered bills match those from the 1978 armored truck heist. That means the money is likely federal property—but it also opens doors to solving one of upstate New York’s longest-standing criminal mysteries.

And while Emily awaits the outcome, she says the experience has already changed her.

“Before this, I was worried about affording new kitchen cabinets,” she said with a dry laugh. “Now I’ve got agents knocking at my door, news vans outside my house, and people calling me the ‘Basement Millionaire.’ It’s surreal.”

What Happens Next?

The FBI has not yet disclosed whether Emily or her family members are considered persons of interest or simply witnesses. As for Emily, she’s focused on maintaining her privacy—and maybe finishing that basement renovation, once the dust settles.

“One thing’s for sure,” she says. “I’ll never look at an old oil drum the same way again.”