Found Message in Bottle Prompts Middletown Woman to Contact Police

NEWPORT—The caretaker for Gooseberry Island recently reported to Newport police that she'd found a message in a bottle on the beach property that gave her cause for concern.

The 68-year-old Middletown woman turned the bottle in to the Newport Police Department on Thursday and, according to police reports, she recalled that about a week ago she found the bottle with a note in it. She said she didn't think anything of it at the time and put it aside with other bottles she'd collected.

On Wednesday evening, though, the woman said she opened the bottle and read the note, which stated: "Dear God please help me. I'm too stupid to recognize yours signs—I want to be happy and live life again. Love Shawn."

The woman said she wanted to turn the note into police because she was concerned it might be a cry for help. The bottle also reportedly contained an acorn and what appeared to be a flattened penny.

The above information was obtained from Newport Police Department daily reports.