A Beaufort, S.C., High School ring stolen 23 years ago has been returned to its owner after a man found it at an auction in Virginia.

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An Ohio man, John Mitchell, found the 1983 class ring in a box of comics he bought for his nephew at an auction in Virginia, The Beaufort Gazette reported Monday.

Mitchell, 70, searched for the ring's owner and he was eventually led to John Capers of Chicago.

"I'm so glad; this is crazy," said Capers, 41, after finding out his missing ring had been found. "I missed it for a long time."

Capers said his high school ring was stolen from him in 1984 at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. He said a young man came into his room and talked for a minute, and when he left Capers noticed his ring was gone.

"I have not seen that guy another day in my life or heard anything about that ring --until today," Capers said. "I am very happy."