These Parents Explain How Their Toddler Found $1000 Cash & Shredded Every Single Bill

And you thought your kids ruined a lot of things.

October 11, 2018
By: Amanda Mushro

It only takes a few minutes for kids to wreck a room in your home or to make a huge mess. However, for parents Ben and Jackee Belnap, they learned the hard way that kids can cost you big time--in their case, it was $1,000

The couple had been saving up cash to pay for season tickets for the Utah Utes football team. They were collecting the cash in an envelope, and when they finally saved up $1,000, they were ready for some football. "We pulled that money out on Sunday to go take it to pay for our season tickets," Ben told Today.

However, when the couple was ready to leave for the game, the envelope was missing. From under rugs and beds to the back of closets and in every single room, they searched their entire home for the missing envelope of cash.

Turns out, their two-year-old son Leo was the one that came across the envelope, and he used the family's paper shredder to shred all of the money. Every. Last. Single. Bill.

"Honestly in my heart, I said someday this is going to be really funny," Ben said. "Most people they say oh, a kid drew crayon on the wall or something. I've never heard of a kid shredding grand."

According to Leo's mom, he liked to help her shred papers and bills, but she always turns the machine off. But this time it looks like she forgot. "As devastated and as sick as we were, this was one of those moments where you just have to laugh," said Jackee.

"We have a lot of Leo moments. Most of them are just funny, and we laugh about them for days and big jokes, but this was one of those moments that wasn't his greatest, but we love him," said mom Jackee.

There is good news. The couple has spoken with the U.S. Department of Treasury, and they may be able to get some or even all of the money back. But, it won't be in time for this football season. The process could take up to two years.

As for the shredder Leo, his mom and dad say he's banned from using the shredder ever again.

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