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James Howells, Famous for Losing a Hard Drive with 8,000 Bitcoins Worth US$ 760 Million, Had the Mystery Solved: His Ex-Girlfriend Revealed to Be the One Responsible for the Disposal.
A new twist has emerged in the story of James Howells, the Welsh software engineer who lost a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins, now valued at US$ 760 million. Howells’ ex-girlfriend, Halfina Eddy-Evans, revealed that it was she who disposed of the drive, unaware of the fortune it contained.
“He Asked Me to Throw It Away”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Halfina explained that the loss of the hard drive happened because Howells asked her to discard a black bag with “unwanted belongings.” According to Halfina, she had no idea that the object contained anything valuable.
“He begged me to get rid of the bag,” said Halfina. “I thought he should take care of it, but I did it to help.”
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She also stated that the blame for the loss should not fall on her, although she hopes that Howells can recover the drive in the future.
A Million-Dollar Battle
Since the loss, Howells has been trying to recover the discarded hard drive from a landfill in Newport, Wales. He has filed a lawsuit for US$ 647 million against the Newport City Council, which denies his requests to excavate the site.
Howells argues that the excavation would be conducted by specialists, at no cost to the council, and has even offered up to 10% of the recovered value as compensation.
The engineer claims that, at the current market value, the 8,000 Bitcoins would be worth approximately US$ 765 million. At the recent peak price, the fortune could reach nearly US$ 800 million.
The Saga Continues
Halfina’s confession adds a new layer to Howells’ saga, which has already lasted over a decade. Meanwhile, the dispute between him and the local authorities remains unresolved, and the hard drive remains buried, along with the hope of recovering one of the largest lost fortunes in history.
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