Engagement Ring From TWA Crash Tangled in Legalities

A woman whose dreams died with her fiance on TWA Flight 800 says she is fighting to get her diamond engagement ring, which was found in the ocean after the jet exploded and crashed.

But an airline source familiar with Julie Stuart’s repeated requests, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Stuart needs to prove that the item belonged to her fiance.

“Also, this property, when and if it is identified as his, under New York law has to be returned to the next of kin,” the source said. “Legally she is not his next of kin. Once it’s released to his family, if they choose to give it to her, then that would be up to them or the courts.”

“That ring is an incredible symbol of our love,” Stuart said as tears filled her blue eyes. “It will be something I will hold onto for the rest of my life.”

Stuart, 31, had lived in Bridgewater, Conn., with Andrew Krukar, 41, for the last year. They had planned to be married next summer.

In June, they bought a diamond ring with an antique setting for $15,000 at neighborhood jewelry shop.

But Krukar wanted to place the ring on Stuart’s finger in a special place--Paris, the City of Love.

She had planned to meet him in Paris two days after all 230 people aboard the ill-fated July 17 flight were killed.

About a week after the explosion, a friend of Krukar in Paris saw a photograph of the ring in Paris-Match magazine among pictures of other items recovered from the crash.

“We have written letters to everyone imaginable including President Clinton, the attorney general, several congressmen, and everyone says I need someone else’s approval,” she said.

“We had an incredible love story,” said Stuart. “I know when I finally put that ring on, Andy will be smiling down on me.”