Valid $179 Million Lost Lottery Ticket Turned In- Battle Looms Over 'Lost Property'

Detroit Free Press ^ | 1/6/04

[11th Earl of Mar]

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Someone turned in a valid ticket for the $162 million Mega Millions multistate lottery jackpot, the Ohio Lottery said Tuesday, a day after a Cleveland woman claimed she lost the winning ticket outside the convenience store where it was sold.

[RandallFlagg]

Who the hell is she, Stephen King?

Hmm? Huh?

RandallFlagg
Since Jan 15, 2000

[lelio]

Bingo! Had she reported it missing before the drawing, I'd have some sympathy for her.

I'm waiting for her to show some old lottery tickets with the same numbers as she always plays those.

[Bikers4Bush]

In addition she waited until Friday to file a police report, the drawing was on Tuesday.

[Naspino]

I do the same. Chances are that she still has the bet ticket she used and all the numbers on that will match all the numbers on the ticket.

I wouldn't assume she has any other tickets. She couldn't even hold on to the winning one.

[eastsider]

A few of her numbers she claims she uses is the month and day backwards. Now why would someone use that? instead of just normal?

Simple. The numbers for days of the month only reach to number 31. By playing the numbers backwards, one can get to the numbers above 31.

[RabidBartender]

Unfortunately, anyone could go in the store anytime before or after the drawing and fill out a betting ticket.

[Bikers4Bush]

Noooo, I mean the real winner. She has the bet slip she filled out to run through the machine. She's used it a number of times.

[dmzTahoe]

Well said. I have two kids. On the rare occasion that I play Lotto,I use month and date of both, my age and wife's birth date. I don't revers a date, use a sister's 'date and pick a lucky number.

This lady has seven kids.... more than enough numbers to pick from.

Hey wait, 32 is the combined ages of my kids multiplied by the number of kids I have minus my house number... It's my ticket, honest!!!

[HiTech RedNeck]

I guess they could ask the clerk if the woman showed up around the time of the sale of the winning ticket. But what if the clerk is in a scam with her?

They ought to require lottery ticket buyers leave fingerprints as ID.

[Bikers4Bush]

And have them all match the additional numbers on the ticket? In other words the other 4 combinations. I doubt it.

[RabidBartender]

His best book, IMO - the unabridged version, of course.

[Naspino]

I'm not going to defend this woman because I don't lose lottery tickets. I would like to find a winning one though and I don't want anyone to ruin my fantasy of doing that. Think about it -- the odds would have been so good for those 30 people searching the gas station. Much better than 160 million to 1.

[smith288]

Simple. The numbers for days of the month only reach to number 31. By playing the numbers backwards, one can get to the numbers above 31.

It would be easier to me to just use something else then. Why strain yourself?

[RabidBartender]

Ooh...good call. I hadn't thought about that.

[68 grunt]

Finders - keepers, losers - weepers

[Naspino]

Another thought -- The state is NOT going to help this woman in a lawsuit. That would set a precedent and remember who gets the money if it goes unclaimed.

[steveo]

I'm wrong. Public record.

[fella]

No, especially when one of the "significant" numbers represents a son's birthday - reversed. Another two numbers are the month and day of another son.

And especially if it all adds up to NINETEEN.

[Bikers4Bush]

Actually not mine. Someone else pointed it out and then one of the stations is reporting that the ticket was a $5 ticket so it's safe to assume she used some combination of either all chosen numbers or some chosen and some random.

The bet ticket would match that format.

[RandallFlagg]

She's black ! Thank god. Mayfield Road is safe now.

LOL! I can visulize Jesse Jackson watching this in the news and kicking the foot of a table yelling, "DAMMIT!!!!"