Man may be reimbursed for money mutilated by mice

JACKSON — A southeast Missouri man is expected to be reimbursed for mutilated $20 bills that had been munched on by mice.

He had left what he believed was about $1,000 in an unzipped vinyl bag on a desk at his home, but misplaced it during severe weather in March. He eventually found the bag, and in August took it to First Missouri State Bank in Jackson in hopes of covering his losses.

Bank manager Michelle Johns said Wednesday she and two staffers picked through rodent droppings and bird feathers in the bag and reassembled the bills.

The U.S. Mint advised Johns that both sets of serial numbers printed on the bills must be complete to get reimbursement.

Johns said mint officials instructed her to send the reassembled bills — and the feces and feathers — to them in Washington, D.C.

Johns said the reassembled bills total around $1,000.