N.C. woman claims $66M Powerball jackpot

Jul 5, 2004, 8:27 am (8 comments)

Powerball

A North Carolina woman turned in the winning $65.8 million Powerball ticket to South Carolina Lottery officials late Friday afternoon.

A release from the state lottery said the woman chose to remain anonymous and has decided to take the Powerball prize in a $34.2 million, taxable, one-time cash payout.

North Carolinians have bought all three of the winning Powerball tickets sold in South Carolina since the lottery started in January 2002. North Carolina has no state lottery.

In May 2003, a Charlotte couple claimed an $88.7 million Powerball jackpot, taking $48.8 million in a single payment. In January, a Concord, N.C., couple claimed half of a $221.5 million prize and took $60.1 million in cash.

State Lottery Director Ernie Passailaigue said the woman lives in the Raleigh area, but he had no further details about her age, marital status or occupation.

The woman is represented by a Raleigh lawyer, who did not respond to messages left Friday.

While the previous winners chose to be identified almost immediately after the drawing, the woman "at this point in time was hesitant to have any hoopla about it," Passailaigue said. "We try to honor people's wishes."

The release said the woman was a first-time Powerball player driving back from Atlanta when she stopped three times to buy tickets, probably June 25, Passailaigue said.

The winning numbers, 9-17-32-41-47-Powerball-8 were sold at the woman's first stop, a Spinx Sunoco Station off Interstate 85's Exit 11 in Townville in western South Carolina.

The store gets a $50,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.

AP

Tags for this story

Other popular tags

Comments

fxdwg's avatarfxdwg

The only way

golotto

N.C. allows anonymity? Must be nice! I didn't know that. I sure wouldn't get that option where I live as they require release of name and general residency information.

Todd's avatarTodd

Actually, it's South Carolina that accepted the anonymous ticket redemption.  The winner lives in NC, but the lottery is based in SC.

whodeani's avatarwhodeani

"The release said the woman was a first-time Powerball player driving back from Atlanta when she stopped three times to buy tickets, probably June 25, Passailaigue said."

I am a many time Powerball player so why can't I win??? Just drives you crazy hearing about people who never played before or hardly play at all winning. Grrrrrrrr!!!!!! I am happy for her though just wish it was me for a change.

ThinkBig

I went to the SC website and read this very story. There is a lawyer who is handling the winner's affairs. The lawyer is from Raleigh, NC and there was a phone number where the public could call to find out more about the woman. I certainly respect the woman's wishes for  privacy and that is the first thing I would want when I won a jackpot...PRIVACY. However, what I did was got a map and traced her journey from Atlanta (down I 85, I think) and then just across the SC border to the right is a small town called Townville on (Highway 24) and that is where she bought her lucky ticket.  How amazing. I am not sure when she bought the ticket...on other websites I read where it was either on Friday or perhaps the day of the drawing. I also wondered since she was coming back from Atlanta was she just coming back from the Mega Fest with Bishop TD Jakes. That convention was going on all week long and there were people in Atlanta who were from all over the world. She may have just left the convention and all that "HOLY GHOST" worship probably rubbed off on her and caused her to win that jackpot. IF this is the case, this is truly a story worth telling, but of course, she chose to remain anonymous and give very little info about why she was in Atlanta. Anyway, I wish her well...but I just wish it was ME...lol

ANd hey, did you know that SC is yet to have a South Carolinian to win the Powerball. All of the three winners have been from North Carolina. Now how to you explain that???

doubledee32

Maybe somebody can answer me this one-If you want to remain anonymous and have a lawyer collect for you-do you just give him the ticket ? or how does that work. I mean if you sign it-the lottery would know who you were-I've always wondered that.hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

ThinkBig

I think you would have to sign the ticket since you own it, but you can have your lawyer CLAIM the ticket on your behalf. Whoever goes to the Claim Center and claims it, (Lawyer, etc) their names are the ones identified in the newspapers, unless they request anonymity. But, of course, lawyers do not mind being identified...It is business recognition for them, right?

dphillips's avatardphillips

Although I don't reside in North Carolina anymore, Senator Jesse Helms, an arch conservative, along with some other legislators from the old school, are against a lottery in North Carolina. 

Since I hear from my North Carolina friend on a weekly basis, he gives me the scoop.  Yes, there are the progressives who want North Carolina to move into the 21st century, and they want that liquid pot of gold, lottery revenue for their state.  However, some of the legislators seem to be wafling.  Nonetheless, my friend thinks the North Carolina legislators will dventually come to their senses.

dphillips (Blue)

End of comments
Subscribe to this news story
Guest