LOS ANGELES, Oct 28, (Agencies): A heartwarming story unfolded in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where a lost locket containing the ashes of a young boy's mother was miraculously found, thanks to the efforts of a kind-hearted man with a metal detector.

Ten-year-old Connor Datri of Plymouth cherished a necklace that he wore daily. The necklace held immense sentimental value for him as it contained the ashes of his mother, Lynelle Leonard, who tragically lost her life in a car crash three years ago. The necklace featured a heart-shaped locket engraved with Leonard's fingerprint and initials.

Connor's grandmother, Melissa Moriarty, became instrumental in trying to locate the lost locket. She posted an appeal in a community Facebook group on October 20, accompanied by images of the precious necklace, asking for help in finding it. Her message resonated with the community, and they joined in the search efforts.

This is where Lou Asci, a 61-year-old resident of Marshfield, entered the picture. As an employee of Massport, Asci is an experienced treasure hunter who uses his metal detector to locate missing items in his spare time, offering his services free of charge. He learned of Connor's situation through a friend and decided to help.

Asci and a group of searchers initially combed West Elementary School's soccer field, but their efforts were halted by the school's principal during class hours. They were, however, allowed to return after school hours. The following evening, Asci resumed his search, equipped with a headlamp.

During his search, Asci discovered various objects, including coins, pendants, and a ring, but the elusive locket remained hidden. Undeterred, he returned to the field with his wife and engaged in a conversation with Connor and his grandmother. Asci expressed a strong intuition about the locket's location.

He followed his instincts, leading him to a different field than their previous search area. Right in the center of the soccer field, Asci made the remarkable discovery - the missing heart-shaped locket. He handled it delicately to avoid disturbing the field, and it was indeed the long-sought-after pendant.

Asci shared pictures of his discovery with Moriarty, and they arranged to meet in a parking lot. There, he returned the precious locket to Connor and his grandmother. The moment was emotional for all involved, with Asci expressing his feelings of joy and fulfillment.

Moriarty conveyed Connor's gratitude, saying, "Connor just wants to thank everyone for looking, and he’s very happy that he has his mom back." The heartwarming story serves as a reminder of the kindness and unity that can be found within a community, and the lengths to which people will go to help others in times of need.