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California Lottery Looking for Woman Who Hasn't Claimed Her $23M Winnings [UPDATED]
Surveillance video from the store shows the ticket purchaser (Photo courtesy the California Lottery)
Listen up, ladies! Did you by chance purchase a lottery ticket last May in Palmdale? If so, you could be exactly who the California Lottery is looking for. The winner of a $23 million jackpot has yet to come forward to claim her prize, and the clock is ticking on her chance to collect; if she doesn't redeem her ticket by November 26 that money goes back to the state.Specifically, the ticket was bought on May 30, by a dark-haired woman wearing a blue or purple top from Michael's Market & Liquor. The Lottery elaborates:
The winner, who purchased her $23 million jackpot-winning SuperLotto Plus ticket for the May 30 draw, matched all six numbers - 14, 7, 26, 31, 23 and Mega 5 - but still has not come forward to claim her millions.
The Lotto is hoping someone will recognize the lucky lady--or the winner herself will bring her ticket in to get her winnings. "Jackpot winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim the jackpot prize," notes the Lottery.
It's not a total loss--except for this mystery ticket buyer--if the winner doesn't collect. "Michael’s Market & Liquor will still receive a bonus of one half percent, or $115,000, for selling the winning ticket," explains the Lottery. And the rest will be handed over to California schools, who, let's be real, need the money too.
UPDATE 4:15 PM: Officials with the Lottery say the winner has come forward. The Associated Press reports that the woman's daughter saw her mom's photo in a newspaper, snapped a photo of the story, and sent it to her mom. The winner then retrieved the ticket from her car, and has already contacted the Lottery to claim her prize. The lucky lady should get her winnings in four to six weeks.
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