A Massapequa Park, New York, woman is $3 million richer after winning the jackpot in the New York State Lottery's Triple Million scratch-off game. And it was a spat with her husband, Rudy, that made them millionaires, Theresa Holzknecht, 48, said at a news conference Thursday morning in Garden City.
She said their daughter Jessie, 12, had been grounded for staying out too late, but her husband caved in and let her hang out with friends.
To make amends to his wife, Rudy Holzknecht went to pick up their daughter from a friend's house Nov. 26 and stopped off at Ed's Service Center on Carmans Road in Massapequa to buy his wife the $10 lottery ticket he usually gets for her.
They saw they had won after Rudy, 50, got home that night, a Saturday. "That was 10 p.m.; we didn't sleep after that," Theresa said.
The family has a Rottweiler, Captain Nemo, who likes to sleep on one end of the couch, Theresa said. Until they could get to the lottery office the next Monday morning, she said, "that's where the ticket was, under the cushion where Nemo could guard it."
Theresa Holzknecht, who works as a secretary for her husband's awning business, said she'll buy a new family truck and pay for their daughter's college tuition. But the couple said they wouldn't let the money, $99,045 a year after taxes for the next 20 years, change their lives. Rudy had a tape measure hanging from his jeans as the couple were handed a cardboard replica of a $3 million check. He was on his way to work, he said.
"It'll make it easier," he said. "Instead of six 12-hour days, I'll cut back to four [days]."
Two other jackpot winners, Edwin Zhingre and Mario Zhingri, said their lives wouldn't change either. Lottery officials at the news conference introduced the Queens Village brothers, who will share a $5 million jackpot in the Mega Money Multiplier $20 scratch-off game. The two brothers, who emigrated from Ecuador 10 years ago, spell their last names differently.
Edwin, 28, bought the winning ticket Dec. 1 at the Sarahi Grocery on Springfield Boulevard in Springfield Gardens. But he decided to split it with his oldest brother. Mario, 37, said his brother told him, "In the worst times, when he needed my help, I always helped."
Nice story! Timing is everything. Good thing his daughter stayed out late.
Argue Away!! People. Let's all win!
I still can't figure out why the heck people choose to give a story when they claim their prize. Why not try to stay annonoymus. Also why do people feel they have to hide the ticket until they cash it? I mean its ur house and if u didn't blab ur trap about the win, then u don't need to hide anything. Why would u put your ticket beneath ur dog(why is he in ur bed any way is beyond me) what if he pissed or craped on the ticket..
No better time to win than the holiday time.
Under the Dog, really? I'd be affraid the dog would smell it out and tear it to shreds more than someone breaking in and taking the ticket.
Ima gonna make my wife mad when she gets home from work !
congrats to the winners.... amazing how luck works .. has its own ways .... way tooo goo Long island new york ...... let some come further to the end tours me
G@@D job Captain NEMO
Ditto.
I wouldn't have it under my dog, I'd have it in the nightstand under my 45.
This is going to sound crazy, but I'd put the winning ticket in the freezer.
A friend survived a house fire when she was a kid. Said almost everything they owned was destroyed by fire, smoke, or water. However, the contents inside their freezer were nearly pristene and even still cool to the touch. The freezer had offered good protection from both fire and water damage.
Ever since then, her family keeps certain important documents in the freezer for protection.
That's a good idea! I've heard it here before, but just never thought about it too much. Although I'd be afraid the ticket would get wet and fall apart, even after using ziploc bags. Maybe stick it in a jar in the freezer? Then it would still get wet from the cold, hmm....
As for under the dog - I'd be afraid he'd rip it apart!!! Maybe they just said that so people would be aware that they have a rottweiler!
It wasn't hard to make her upset ............... go figure !!!!!!!!!!!!!