By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Richard Stock was left scratching his head after receiving a piece of mail last week.
The mail, which was delivered in a letter-size envelope, was not intended for Stock or anyone in his household.
In fact, the letter was not intended for anyone in Niles, the state of Michigan, or the United States for that matter. It was intended for someone in North Shore City, New Zealand.
"How it got here is still a mystery to me," Stock said Friday afternoon.
"I was going through the mail, as I do everyday, and I saw this letter and just stared at it for a second. I even asked some of my family members what my last name and address was," Stock said.
It would make one a little curious, especially since nothing on the envelope resembled anything close to Stock's name. The only similarity was the address number 44. Add this to the fact that the letter was post-marked in Oklahoma, and it would leave anyone a little confused.
"I don't know anyone from New Zealand and I have a cousin who lives in Mustang, Okla., but that's all," Stock said.
Stock admitted he was a little unsure of where exactly New Zealand was located.
"I had to get the Atlas' out just to see. It's below Australia. I still can't believe it's sitting on my kitchen table," Stock said.
The letter was not intended for just one person. Rather, it was made out for a family.
According to employees at the United States Post Office in Niles, they are unsure how the letter got to the wrong address and without seeing it actual letter, it's unclear how it happened.
"I just hope it gets to its rightful owner," Stock added.