Gas station owner Simon Kim has looked at the photograph of the woman captured on security tape dozens of times since Friday night, when she came into the business and purchased a winning lottery ticket worth a staggering $93 million.
Kim said he recognizes the woman, who visits his Bay Farm Island station at least once a week.
He just doesn't know her name.
Neither do California Lottery officials, who late Thursday afternoon were still waiting for her to come forward to claim the money.
What's more, officials also were waiting to hear from the individual who purchased another winning lottery ticket — worth $152,827 — at the nearby Safeway store on Island Drive. That person was one of eight second prize winners in the Mega Millions drawing on Friday.
"It's still early in the week and it's after a holiday weekend," California Lottery spokeswoman Olga Gallando said. "Many people are off from work or on vacation. So right now, we're waiting."
Kim thinks the state's newest multimillionaire must know she has the winning ticket.
"Wouldn't you?" he said with incredulity, looking at her image on his computer screen. "With a prize of $93 million, wouldn't you be taking the ticket out of your pocket and checking the numbers?"
According to lottery officials, the ticket was purchased at 7:15 p.m. Friday as a Quickpick at Kim's Harbor Bay 76 service station on Mecartney Road. The winning numbers, 5-14-22-39-47, were drawn Saturday night in the SuperLotto Plus. The mega number was 10.
The security footage shows the purchaser as a white woman in her 30s with long dark hair. She was wearing a white top and possibly blue jeans.
"That's her," Kim said, touching the computer screen.
Gallardo suggests the winner sign the ticket before redeeming it. The local lottery office is at 2489 Industrial Parkway West in Hayward.
The 51-year-old Kim began selling lottery tickets soon after he opened the service station in October 1984.
But this is the first time he has ever sold a winning ticket with such a hefty prize.
When the winner actually redeems it, Kim will receive a $465,000 bonus for selling the ticket.
The Alameda businessman, who is married with two adult children, has made no plans with what he'll do with the money.
"I don't know," Kim said with a smile. "Maybe I'll put some into the business."
i can understand the lottery officials looking at the photo after a few months of someone not claiming it but it is still very early so i hope they dont release that photo to the public anytime soon because the winner may be seeking financial advice and wants to choose when to come forward with the ticket and reveal her identity
I'm sure every business owner would want the winner to come forward so they can get their big bonus for selling the ticket. In a worst case scenario, what a nightmare it would be for the owner if the winner walked into the store tommorrow and the owner tells them "You're the winner!", and then the winner says "OMG! I threw away the ticket!". Not nearly as bad as the actual winner, but that would very bad. Looks like this owner will have to wait.
Quote: Originally posted by Guru101 on Sep 7, 2007
I'm sure every business owner would want the winner to come forward so they can get their big bonus for selling the ticket. In a worst case scenario, what a nightmare it would be for the owner if the winner walked into the store tommorrow and the owner tells them "You're the winner!", and then the winner says "OMG! I threw away the ticket!". Not nearly as bad as the actual winner, but that would very bad. Looks like this owner will have to wait.
Quote: Originally posted by tnlotto1 on Sep 7, 2007
i can understand the lottery officials looking at the photo after a few months of someone not claiming it but it is still very early so i hope they dont release that photo to the public anytime soon because the winner may be seeking financial advice and wants to choose when to come forward with the ticket and reveal her identity
I agree. I hope they restrain themselves from rsuhing to out the person. I don't think they will, the person will surface in due time.
This is just horrible! Neither the store nor the lottery has any business looking at the security tape. Leave the woman alone and let her get her affairs in order!
Congrats to the lucky winner! Another one for the QuikPiks!
I hope the store owner has the sense not to say anything to her about it within earshot of anybody else if at all until she says something first. I think if I said anything it would be "We had a big winner sold here, please check your tickets" and nothing else.
I've always wondered if these security camera clocks were synched to the lottery machine clocks?
Quote: Originally posted by Uncle Jim on Sep 10, 2007
This is just horrible! Neither the store nor the lottery has any business looking at the security tape. Leave the woman alone and let her get her affairs in order!
Jim
I agree! I would feel violated if I were that woman.
Quote: Originally posted by wizeguy on Sep 11, 2007
Congrats to the lucky winner! Another one for the QuikPiks!
I hope the store owner has the sense not to say anything to her about it within earshot of anybody else if at all until she says something first. I think if I said anything it would be "We had a big winner sold here, please check your tickets" and nothing else.
I've always wondered if these security camera clocks were synched to the lottery machine clocks?
"I've always wondered if these security camera clocks were synched to the lottery machine clocks?"
Probably not but a lottery terminal printout would show at what time that ticket was bought and they checked the security tapes to see who bought tickets around that time. I doubt the security tape will be shown even if the winner decides to go the Bunky Bartlett route.
Quote: Originally posted by Uncle Jim on Sep 10, 2007
This is just horrible! Neither the store nor the lottery has any business looking at the security tape. Leave the woman alone and let her get her affairs in order!
Jim
There are many reasons why a lottery winner would wait to claim it but there is also the chance that person doesn't know they are holding winning ticket. The store owner may have viewed the tape for that reason or maybe he was just curious, but either way it's still his tape. Since the article doesn't say the tape was released to the public and there is no reason to assume it will be.
The winner was Mrs. Taylor. I hope Mrs. Taylor claims the prize to step forward to take cash option and not have financial problems later in life. There were 24 straight rolls without a jackpot winner on this run. The previous record number of rolls is 23 in 2006.
The winner happens to be my great aunt. She did not even knew she won until she saw the security tape on television. She is currently working with an attorney and financial planner. She will be coming forward either this week or the first part of next week. She will take the lump sum as she is a little older than the reported Thirty years old. Any more information you want, well ask...might just give it to ya!!!
Congratulations to the Mystery Winner!
i can understand the lottery officials looking at the photo after a few months of someone not claiming it but it is still very early so i hope they dont release that photo to the public anytime soon because the winner may be seeking financial advice and wants to choose when to come forward with the ticket and reveal her identity
I'm sure every business owner would want the winner to come forward so they can get their big bonus for selling the ticket. In a worst case scenario, what a nightmare it would be for the owner if the winner walked into the store tommorrow and the owner tells them "You're the winner!", and then the winner says "OMG! I threw away the ticket!". Not nearly as bad as the actual winner, but that would very bad. Looks like this owner will have to wait.
Ouch. That would suck in so many different ways.
How typical of Cali, everyone's on camera.
I agree. I hope they restrain themselves from rsuhing to out the person. I don't think they will, the person will surface in due time.
I hope they don't plaster the video all over the news and the net..
Whatever happens, privacy should be respected.
This is just horrible! Neither the store nor the lottery has any business looking at the security tape. Leave the woman alone and let her get her affairs in order!
Jim
Congrats to the lucky winner! Another one for the QuikPiks!
I hope the store owner has the sense not to say anything to her about it within earshot of anybody else if at all until she says something first. I think if I said anything it would be "We had a big winner sold here, please check your tickets" and nothing else.
I've always wondered if these security camera clocks were synched to the lottery machine clocks?
I agree! I would feel violated if I were that woman.
"I've always wondered if these security camera clocks were synched to the lottery machine clocks?"
Probably not but a lottery terminal printout would show at what time that ticket was bought and they checked the security tapes to see who bought tickets around that time. I doubt the security tape will be shown even if the winner decides to go the Bunky Bartlett route.
There are many reasons why a lottery winner would wait to claim it but there is also the chance that person doesn't know they are holding winning ticket. The store owner may have viewed the tape for that reason or maybe he was just curious, but either way it's still his tape. Since the article doesn't say the tape was released to the public and there is no reason to assume it will be.
The winner was Mrs. Taylor. I hope Mrs. Taylor claims the prize to step forward to take cash option and not have financial problems later in life. There were 24 straight rolls without a jackpot winner on this run. The previous record number of rolls is 23 in 2006.
The winner happens to be my great aunt. She did not even knew she won until she saw the security tape on television. She is currently working with an attorney and financial planner. She will be coming forward either this week or the first part of next week. She will take the lump sum as she is a little older than the reported Thirty years old. Any more information you want, well ask...might just give it to ya!!!
Love from Iowa