In June 2022, the residents of Chula Vista, California, experienced a heartwarming reminder of human decency when a woman’s lost purse was returned right to her doorstep. The green handbag, which had been misplaced outside a Ralph’s grocery store, was found by a humble teenager who had been taught to always “do the right thing.” Amid a summer marked by rising gas prices and social unrest, this young man offered a powerful example of kindness and integrity.
The teenager, a recent graduate of Otay Ranch High School, discovered the purse left behind in a shopping cart. After locating an ID inside, he drove to the address listed on the license to return it. Melina Marquez, who lived at the home, was stunned when she saw the young man on her Ring camera. She and the purse’s owner, Eliana Martin, were both surprised and moved by his gesture.
“I looked at the Ring footage and couldn’t believe how young he was,” Marquez told NBC 7. “It was incredibly kind of him to go out of his way to bring it to our home.” Touched by his honesty, she felt a strong need to show her appreciation. “We wanted to find him and thank him properly,” she said.
The teen, Adrian Rodriquez, didn’t see his actions as anything out of the ordinary. “If someone found my belongings, I’d hope they’d do the same,” he said. Thinking his good deed was complete, he left the purse with a relative at the house and moved on. But once the video of him returning the purse surfaced online, it quickly went viral.
Rodriquez was surprised by the attention. “I woke up to a bunch of messages saying, ‘Is this you?’ It was kind of surreal,” he said. Marquez later invited him back so she and Martin could thank him in person. Martin was equally astonished that her bag had been found and returned. “It was such a surprise,” she said.
The Chula Vista Facebook community, which initially shared the doorbell video, rallied to track down the young man. “Thank God we found him,” Marquez said. She and Martin launched a fundraiser to express their gratitude, and the community donated over \$1,100 to Rodriquez.
Grateful for the support, Rodriquez said, “It feels really good. I appreciate it so much.” He credited his mother for instilling strong values in him from a young age. “She always told me to do the right thing, even when no one is watching.” When asked what he planned to do with the money, he said it would help cover gas expenses.
Marquez praised him, saying, “Every parent hopes their child grows up to be like this young man.” She also noted how uplifting the story was during difficult times. “This is the kind of positive news we all need.” With thoughtful, honest individuals like Rodriquez in the world, there’s hope for a brighter future—one purse at a time.