A couple that recently moved in to an apartment were in for a surprise upon discovering about $12,000 in cash inside the refrigerator.

Colleen Mesler, 65, said that she found the bills in the freezer, when her husband Jim asked her to throw the tray out. The cash was seen deteriorating and covered with mold, and wrapped in tin foil.

"I thought it was old meat, stale meat," said 55-year old Mesler.

"But it didn't smell like bad meat," recalled Colleen. "I pulled it apart and found $100 bills. I was more than shocked. 'I'm not throwing this away,' I thought."

After prying the bills apart with a pair of tweezers, the couple counted a total of about $12,000.

"About $2,000 of it was torn up, or we couldn't get the mold off it," the AP quoted Jim.

The couple took the cash to the M&I Bank, hoping to exchange the moldy, broken-up cash for fresh ones. They were told to call the police.

The Meslers are currently awaiting the official word on whether or not they would be allowed to keep the money.

"It would be a very big help," said Colleen, who broke down in tears. "We've been waiting and waiting, and nobody's called to claim it. Other people have found money and got to keep it."

Unfortunately, the previous renters of the apartment had been charged with drug trafficking, after a February police raid uncovered crack cocaine, marijuana, a scale, and other piece of evidence that pointed to drug sales. About $1,100 was also found.

"If it is determined that the money is the proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs, then it would be contraband" the Gazette Extra quoted Deputy Police Chief David Moore, "and on behalf of Janeville taxpayers, we would seize that money."

If allowed to keep it, the couple said they would use it to pay their bills.