Chick-fil-A Worker Discovers Nearly $10,000 in Restroom and Attempts to Decline Reward for Returning It

KINSTON, N.C. – An employee at a Chick-fil-A fast food location initially refused a reward after finding close to $10,000 in cash left behind on Friday at the Kinston restaurant.

Jaydon Cintron shared that he was on his usual break on Good Friday morning when he came across two white envelopes inside the men’s restroom.

“They were lying on the floor beside the toilet. My immediate reaction was, like... no, this can’t be real,” Cintron told WITN. “Something felt off.”

One envelope was marked First Citizens Bank and contained $5,000, while the other, labeled Truist Bank, held $4,333.

When asked by WITN why he didn’t keep the money, the 18-year-old responded, “That’s not what Jesus would have done. That’s not what God would have wanted.”

“Unfortunately, many people might just take that money and disappear,” stated Kinston Police Chief Keith Goyette. “We applaud that Chick-fil-A employee. He absolutely deserves recognition.”

At first, the restaurant attempted to review security footage to identify the rightful owner of the cash but was unsuccessful.

Chief Goyette confirmed that the owner of the $9,833 came forward this morning to reclaim the money.

Cintron said the man later approached him offering a $500 reward for his honesty, but initially, Cintron refused, explaining that his faith guided him to do the right thing without expecting anything in return.

After turning down the reward several times, the young man eventually accepted it.

"True leadership and integrity mean doing the right thing even when no one is watching," remarked restaurant owner John McPhaul. "Jaydon demonstrated that here and deserves to be praised."