Details of lottery winner kin's death still sketchy

Dec 21, 2004, 10:51 am (24 comments)

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The 17-year-old granddaughter of the nation's largest lottery winner was found dead near her boyfriend's home, her body wrapped in a sheet and plastic tarp. 
 
Brandi Bragg, who lived in the nearby town of Hurricane, was last seen alive Dec. 4. She was reported missing five days later by Jack Whittaker, who won a $314.9 million jackpot on Christmas Day 2002 but has battled legal and other problems since then.

The cause of death was under investigation. Authorities said there were no obvious signs of violence. An autopsy was planned for Tuesday, and police said Tuesday morning there was nothing new to report.

Bragg's body was found Monday behind a junked van several hundred feet from the home of Steve Crosier, whose son Brandon was Bragg's boyfriend, said Trooper S.E. Wolfe.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Bragg may have died in the Crosiers' house and her body was later moved.

Wolfe said Monday's discovery was based on interviews with Brandon Crosier and others. "We are focused on him but I wouldn't call him a suspect yet," he said.

Steve Crosier, in a brief conversation with reporters outside his house, said: "All I know is she OD'd and Brandon freaked out."

But police would not comment on whether drugs were involved, and in a later telephone interview with The Associated Press, Crosier said he did not know any details of Bragg's death or when her body was placed outside on his property. Crosier said he had been busy tending to his daughter, Jennifer, who died of cancer Dec. 13.

Bragg's body was identified by tattoos on her neck, said State Police Sgt. Jay Powers. "The troopers had talked to her in the past and knew her," Powers said.

Whittaker and other family members did not return messages Monday. There was no listing for Bragg's mother, Ginger McMahon of Beckley, who is Whittaker's daughter.

Shortly after he won the lottery, the biggest undivided lottery jackpot in U.S. history, Whittaker said he had few plans for himself but wanted to lavish his winnings on his daughter and Brandi, then 15.

But Whittaker already a wealthy contractor before his lottery win has had several brushes with the law since he won the prize. Earlier this month, a magistrate ordered him to go into rehab and surrender his driver's license after his second drunken driving arrest this year. He must report to rehab by Jan. 2.

He has also been accused in two lawsuits of assaulting female employees of a racetrack. And his vehicle, business and home have been broken into.

In September, an 18-year-old friend of his granddaughter was found dead at Whittaker's home. That death remains under investigation. Whittaker was out of town at the time.







Jeff Gentner, AP

A broken-down Ford van, center, is seen in Scott Depot, W.Va., Monday, Dec. 20, 2004.  West Virginia State Police found the body of Brandi Bragg, 17, granddaughter of record Powerball multimillionaire Jack Whittaker, lying next to the van.








Jeff Gentner, AP

A van near a house owned by Steve Crosier is shown Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, in Scott Depot, W.Va.  The body of Brandi Bragg, 17, granddaughter of Powerball jackpot winner Jack Whittaker, was found lying next to the van, more than two weeks after she disappeared.








Jeff Gentner, AP

A flyer with a photo of Brandi Bragg, 17, granddaughter of Powerball jackpot winner Jack Whittaker, is posted in the parking lot of Scary Creek Church of God across from the property where her body was found Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, in Scott Depot, W.Va.








Bob Bird, AP

Brandi Bragg, granddaughter of record Powerball jackpot winner Andrew 'Jack' Whittaker, is shown in Charleston, W.Va. in this Dec. 26, 2002 file photo.








Stuart Ramson, AP

Jack Whittaker, his wife Jewel, right, and their granddaughter Brandi Bragg, 15, left, pose for a photograph after being interviewed on NBC's Today Show in New York in this Dec. 27, 2002 file photo. Whittaker won a $113.4 million Powerball lottery payout from the Multi-State Lottery Association. Since winning the lottery two years ago, Jack has been arrested twice for drunken driving and has been ordered into rehab. He pleaded no contest Monday Dec. 13, 2004 to a misdemeanor assault charge for attacking a bar manager, and is accused in two lawsuits of making trouble at a nightclub and a racetrack. Jewel Whittaker told The Charleston Gazette for Tuesday's editions she regrets his purchase of the $314.9 million ticket.





Lottery Post Staff

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nitabug's avatarnitabug

See how depressing those pictures of the land looks?  Well I grew up not far from this place and it was a dark, damp and depressing place!  There isn't much left but drugs and sickness!  I am so thankful my father moved us out from there many years ago!  Let's pray for Jack and his family that they find some peace in all that has happened. 

golotto

My deepest sympathy to the Whittaker family.

kbcherokee's avatarkbcherokee

"To the Whittaker Family"


Grandfather and Great Spirit,


We, as common people,


humbly reach out to you,


at this break of day,


We thank you for this new


and sacred day,


we understand this.


We thank you for giving us


these things and, we praise you.


Grandfather and Great Spirit,


We ask you to give us direction today,


and provide for our needs,


as you are the ONE,


that underdtands and knows


our needs and, you can guide us.


                        Today,


we pray for those who are mourning,


and we ask that you give them comfort.


We pray for our deceased relatives that


you have given them a place of rest,


and that you comfort them


and that they be happy


with their relatives.


Grandfather and Great Spirit,


as we walk through this day,


you understand and know everything


and we ask for your protection,


blessing, good health and happiness.


HELP US! And let us not


forget our kinship,


bu loving each other in our


daily walk in life.


Let us not falter in walking the


way of life with our children


throughout this day.


Grandfather and Great Spirit,


I humbly ask that you answer


our prayers. HELP US!


Throughout the country,


in hospitals and those that need you.


Answer their prayers.


Chief


 

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

the loss of a loved one is hard enough, but the loss of a child is devastating. my deepest sympathy to the whittaker family... 

st.germain's avatarst.germain

I wanted to thank kbcherokee for the eloquent prayer for the jack wittaker family ....I know that those prayer offerings will be heard by the great spirit.

 Thank you kbcherokee.

four4me

I know the loss of a sibling and it wasn't easy. I watched my mother go through agony when my youngest brother passed. I think there is no greater pain than to lay to rest one of your children or their children. I hope the family members and friends will seek guidance and counseling to overcome any grief they may encounter.

Guest

WELL MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY'S LOSS.

 

see all they see is the guy who won all that money

THE MONEY FIRST HE DID NOT WIN 314 MILLION HE TOOK CASH OPTION AS MOST OF US WOULD AND THE ONLY REASON HE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND THE NEWS IS BECAUSE HE WON THE LOTTERY.

THE PROBLEM IS THE PRESS AS ALWAYS CANT LEAVE ANYONE ALONE. HOW COME ALL THE LOTTERY PEOPLE THIS IS THE ONLY ONE YOU HEAR ABOUT WHAT ABOUT ENOUGH ALREADY LET HIM AND HIS FAMILY REST AND RECOVER FROM THEIR GREAT TRAGGIC LOSS.

INCLOSING I FEEL THE LOTTERY SHOULD NEVER GET THAT HIGH LOWER THE ODDS

Phokas
Quote: Originally posted by ELVIS-TCB on December 22, 2004




INCLOSING I FEEL THE LOTTERY SHOULD NEVER GET THAT HIGH LOWER THE ODDS





Are you serious? That tragedy could have happened no matter what size of his win or even if he ever won the jackpot or not. I don't know how you can think the loss suffered from one dysfunctional family, who happened to get a great windfall despite already having bags of money from their business, should place limits on the rest of us. Many people across all age groups die in absolute poverty and agony every day around the world and no one mourns their loss. The death of ANY person is sad but can't be allowed to cause sudden restrictions on how the living should carry on. But we all have choices. So in the girl's memory why don't you live up to your words and not play anything above a $10,000,000 jackpot from now on since you don't think it should ever get that high? Something tells me though if there are several rollovers the next couple months you will be one of the first ones on here saying you hope it reaches a new record amount and that you win it all for yourself.
LottoLin

In reply to Elvis TCB.  Mr Whittaker is putting himself in the news not the lottery people, his stupidity keeps him in the news. You never hear about anyone else that wins large amounts of money because they find financial advisor's and go off and live quiet solitude lives out of the limelight unlike Mr Whittaker, who did everything he could to keep his name in the news. But my deepest sympathies go out to his daughter and to him and his wife at this time in the loss of a daughter and grand-daughter.  Lowering the jackpots will not solve a thing, people wait for the pots to grow to play, it's up to each person to play responsibly and they post so much about how to get in contact with the right people on this site it would be your own fault if you mess up. Some time the wrong people are in the right place at the wrong time.

Guest

lowering the lottery jackpots is a good thing first all the money the lottery makes i never hear any good this money is doing for the senior citizens. but i do stand behind what i said yes i love to have 100 million but i feel even that is to much free money for anyone. i feel the lottery should never go over 50 million annuity, just give better odds i mean anyone who can not live off of 18.7 million cash pay out, does not deserve to win.

you hear about people who won lottery who are broke, oweing lots of money why because they are poverty rich spending more money then they have, you seem only to hear about the winners who are broke but they have houses all overe cars galore possesions but broke filed bankrupticy.

hey it is a blessing people win yes i want to win as much as the next person. i just think it is unfair with odds being so high and jackpots growing so high it is unreal and causes people to go crazy and buy tickets when it only takes one wining ticket $1 to win.

SMALLER JACKPOTS BETTER ODDS LESS POVERTY MORE WINNERS.

four4me

 

elvis---tcb wrote: i never hear any good this money is doing for the senior citizens.

PA Lottery Information

http://www.palottery.state.pa.us/lottery/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=457096&lotteryNav=29752|

Guest

Jewel Whittaker told The Charleston Gazette for Tuesday's editions she regrets his purchase of the $314.9 million ticket.

 

SO IF SHE IS UNHAPPY WITH THIS LOTTERY WIN

GIVE IT TO A CHARITY OR PEOLPE WHO NEED HELP

ONE GREAT THING ABOUT WINING MONEY YOU DONT HAVE TO KEEP IT IF YOUR NOT HAPPY GIVE IT AWAY DUH !

MATT:6:19 -21

Guest

FOUR4ME GIVE ME A LINK TO WHERE THE MONEY IS SAID TO GO BUT AFTER SPEAKING WITH MANY OLD PEOPLE AND SEEING HOW THEY BARLEY MAKE ENDS MEET SOMETIMES HAVE TO MOVE IN WITH THEIR KIDS CAUSE THESE SO CALL PROGRAMS ARE NOT HELPING ANYONE BUT THE LOTTERY BIG WIGS

I CAN TELL YOU THAT MONEY WILL GO TO HELP POOR AND ELDERS AND RETIRES  BUT SHOW ME THE MONEY

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

four4me

I'm getting older myself in my 50's I wouldn't know about PA's programs for the elderly if I didn't read about it. It is very possible that thousands of elderly don't know about any programs or won't accept help. People have to check in with their various senior citizen groups or at least contact AARP these people have knowledge and free information for any senior who wishes to seek help. And many seniors don't have the cash flow to play the lottery so they might not be abreast of PA's senior citizens programs. I just can't believe that the majority of people who need help aren't accepting or seeking help from the state. If they contact any state department pay taxes ride the bus and or used the many other services offered by the state. here is the link click it. PA's Lottery website should have a link to the local government offices.

http://www.state.pa.us/  this link is PA's commonwealth

below is PA's lottery website that shows where the money goes

http://www.palottery.state.pa.us/lottery/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=457096&lotteryNav=29752|

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