State Treasurer Clint Zweifel showcased personal items from his unclaimed property files. He currently holds more than $810 million in unclaimed property, which does not include the physical property he holds which generally comes from abandoned safe deposit boxes.
Banks are required by state law to turn over safe deposit boxes after five years of no contact with the owners. Each year, the treasurer received approximately 1,000 safe deposit boxes and staff catalogs each item within the boxes.
Zweifel is holding the open house as an effort to return unclaimed property to the rightful owners but also to recruit the public's help in returning priceless items like military medals.
One of the most interesting items on display was a Purple Heart from World War I. The medal was mailed to Zweifel's office with no return address only a note with the soldier's name and that he had lived in St. Joseph.
In 2013, Zweifel worked with the General Assembly to pass the Military Medal Return Bill, allowing him to share information about the military medals he holds including the last known owner of safe deposit boxes that contained military medals. This information is available on his website, www.treasurer.mo.gov.