OG: Woman Finds $36K Hidden In SoCal Craigslist Free Couch

RIALTO, CA — It's summertime in Southern California, and with that comes clearing out clutter and redecorating projects. For one Colton woman, that meant scrolling through Craigslist to find the ideal furnishings for her new house.

Vickie Umodu found the perfect listing on the site for two free couches and a matching chair. She couldn't imagine her luck and called right away.
"My mom learned the family was giving away furniture after a loved one passed away," her daughter Diseph Umodu told Patch.

They made arrangements to pick up the pieces right away and brought them inside. Upon cleaning the cushions more closely, they found a package inside the zippered cushion.
It was a packet containing $36,000.

A total of $36,000 inside the cushions of a sofa Vickie Umodu claimed for free on Craigslist. (Courtesy Photo).That's when Umodu picked up the phone and called the family, promising to return it right away. The grieving loved ones told her they'd found money stashed around the house, but not as much as she found inside that Craigslist free couch.
"The family was so happy to have that money to put toward funeral expenses," Diseph explained. So happy that they gifted Vickie Umodu $2,200 to buy a new refrigerator for her home as a thank-you.

"My mom is a blessing to that family, and to everyone she comes into contact with," Diseph Umodu said. "People laugh, asking why my mom didn't keep the money. She's been doing stuff like that all of her life. She gives a lot, and we're proud of her."