A Minnesota man who thought he spotted an empty candy wrapper at an Arkansas park walked away with something far more valuable than a piece of trash. 

David DeCook of Stewartville was strolling through Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park with his family when he noticed a shimmering object on the ground on April 21. 

At first, he assumed it was nothing more than an aluminum wrapper glistening in the sun.

But he was thrilled to learn he was wrong –  he was not looking at litter, but a stunning 3.81-carat brown diamond worth thousands. 

‘Oh, you’re going to be mad once you see what I found!’ David teased his brother, Derek, when he reached over to collect the gem, which he registered with the park a few days later on April 24.  

David and Derek are frequent visitors to the Murfreesboro park – one of the only places in the world where guests can roam and hunt for diamonds – and have taken home countless jewels over the years. 

Both brothers were shocked by David’s most recent find, as it is the largest gem either of them have ever taken home. 

It was also the heftiest diamond registered with the park so far this year, officials said in a press release announcing David’s discovery.

David DeCook (pictured) of Stewartville was strolling through Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park with his family when he noticed a shimmering object on the ground on April 21

David and Derek are frequent visitors to Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park (pictured) – one of the only places in the world guests can roam and hunt for diamonds

David realized he was not looking at litter, but a 3.81-carat brown diamond worth thousands

‘David DeCook of Minnesota just registered this HUGE, 3.81-carat, brown, octahedral diamond he found on the surface at Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park,’ a Facebook page titled Diamonds in Arkansas wrote. 

Assistant Park Superintendent Waymon Cox explained finding the precious crystal was not up to sheer luck. 

‘April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain,’ Cox said in a statement. 

‘Many of the park’s largest diamonds are found on top of the ground. As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface.’

The day before David and his family explored the mineral-rich plowed diamond search area, which spans 37.5 acres, the region saw about an inch of rain.

Commemorating his successful search, David named his copper-colored, metallic cluster The Duke Diamond after his dog. 

He said he is not sure what his plans are for his newest prized-possession – but it could be worth thousands. 

Even though they are valuable, brown diamonds are worth less than white diamonds, according to Naturally Colored. 

Three carats of white diamond could cost about $40,000, while the same amount of brown diamond costs about $10,000.

Both brothers were shocked by David’s most recent find, as it is the largest gem either of them have ever taken home (pictured: David holding his jewel and certificate) 

Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park reported there has been more than 220 registered diamond finds in 2025 (pictured: David’s diamond and its certificate) 

Brown diamonds’ values range from $1,000 to $5,000 per carat, according to Ouros Jewels. 

Based on these numbers, The Duke Diamond could be worth anywhere from $3,810 to $19,050. 

Arkansas’ Crater of Diamonds State Park reported there has been more than 220 registered diamond finds in 2025, roughly weighing a collective 32 carats. Only five of these diamonds have weighed more than a carat. 

Last year, a French tourist, Julien Navas, found a Carine diamond nearly double the size of David’s. It was a staggering 7.46 carats, according to the press release. 

The most massive jewel ever retrieved from the park was found in 1924. It weighed 40.23 carats and was called the Uncle Sam.

Since 1906, when diamonds were discovered in the area, more than 75,000 diamonds have been unearthed.