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.

[DonQ]

Could we be conned? I mean, next time the lottery says that the winning ticket was sold in my town, suppose I claim that I had it but lost it. Then, when the real purchaser of the winning ticket steps forward, etc. etc.

[mabelkitty]

Also, she knew the timeframe the date the ticket was purchase - this wasn't public knowledge, and it was confirmed by the police who followed up her claims with the Ohio Lottery Commission.

Since four days elapse between drawings, this is significant.

[Radioactive]

Ban all lotteries.

The lotteries are nothing more than a tax on the stupid.

Most of the people who have won the lottery have had nothing but problems after they have won.

Destroyed families, Bankruptcies and worse have plagued many winners.

The states that have sanctioned lotteries sold it to the people to cut taxes and support education.......they have done neither.

States that have casino gambling also have problems with prostitution, gambling addiction & crime.

If was was illegal before and the state now supports it....then does it not make that state criminal?

WE could say the same about abortion also.

[smith288]

If Mrs Jamison has the bet slip that matches all other lines on the winning ticket then she wins. Mrs Battle should then be thrown into the pokey for fraud.

[boxerblues]

The max you can get on a ticket is 5$

[FR_addict]

From what I understand, she went to the police after the winning numbers were announced. In fact she wouldn't have a reaason to go to the police before the numbers were announced. They asked for the numbers just to see if she had memorized them or not.

As far as the place of purchase, that is announced early on.
As they get a percentage of the amount just for selling the ticket.

She said she dropped her purse after she paid for the ticket. If she realized that she dropped her ticket before the drawing, she could have easily gone back and paid for another ticket.

It doesn't say that the person turning in the ticket, found the ticket. If the person did find it, then I would believe this woman. Usually most people wait to turn in the ticket to insure its safety and to check into any legal angles for sharing the ticket. Sometimes they wait a long time to turn in a winning ticket. We'll have to wait for the other person to tell us their side of the story.

If the person found the ticket, hopefully it is settled peacefully.

[dead]

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

There’s still hope – maybe she’s less black... or (say it!) a Republican! (Praise the Lord Jessie! Praise the Lord!)

[lelio]

Also, she knew the timeframe the date the ticket was purchase - this wasn't public knowledge, and it was confirmed by the police who followed up her claims with the Ohio Lottery Commission.

I haven't heard that angle of it. But that could also point to a leak in the Lottery Commission.

[commish]

Originally I was ready to give Ms. Battle the benefit of the doubt, but after seeing this wonderful family that is claiming the prize I have to change my opinion.

I know looks can be decieving, but these people just do not look like the type that would find a ticket in a parking lot and claim it for thier own in this manner. Rebecca looks and sounds very believable. If she has a BET slip with all the number combos her story becomes much much more believable than Ms. Battle's.

Eugenia, you better have some old tickets with those same numbers or some major league proof you purchased that ticket. Otherwise you are going in the trash heap of all the scam artists who preceded you.

[Bikers4Bush]

"Also, she knew the timeframe the date the ticket was purchase"

The store owner and his employees knew the details. Dollars to doughnuts the supposed ticket loser knows one of them.

[mabelkitty]

Mrs. Battle left the betting slip on the counter at the store.

[HiTech RedNeck]

One can lose a civil case but not a criminal one (e.g. OJ)

[Protagoras]

In short, this woman cannot prove the ticket was hers.

In short, not enough is known so far to make that statement.

[mabelkitty]

Read the Smoking Gun.
I believer her.

[Bikers4Bush]

True they run them for every $5 but the bet tickets allow you to choose up to ten different sets of number on them. So if you chose ten you'd get to tickets with five sets of numbers on each.

[Bikers4Bush]

Without a doubt.

[Protagoras]

Finders keepers...doesn't work in law.

[smith288]

Mrs. Battle left the betting slip on the counter at the store.

Mrs Battle is screwed. Everything is convenient enough for Mrs Battle isnt it? Why would you not reuse the bet ticket? Thats the whole point of a bet ticket.

[7thson]

I like your tag. I also heard that when someone makes something idiot proof, God makes a better idiot.

[A CA Guy]

Not really, I think the other person will come forward and say they simply bought this ticket and that this other lady may have lost a different ticket with different numbers, but that these tickets and numbers happened to be his..