Man throws away winning lottery ticket, but still collects

What he did do right was to validate the ticket.  That is how he got his money.  By validating it, the computers picked it up that the jackpot winning ticket had been turned in.  If he hadn't validated it, he would be SOL.

I am very happy for the couple.  I bet waiting a year was really hard.

wow, this is my kind of story!!! i never get a friggin' receipt for my numbers, nj lottery sucks! [unless i win] ... anyway, you mean to tell me he's about to be richer then, possibly, most of the people in the building where he and wifey work? WOW! now they have their american dream story!! love it!! i wish them the very best - i love it when people ine these sucky jobs [did housekeeping in college and believe me it sucks] get rewarded!! TGIF and someone is going to be debt free! now, we just need to work on the rest of us!! TONIGHT MAY BE THE NIGHT FOR A LUCKY SOMEONE!! jackpot is HUGE!

Linda Holley, the health-care worker was the lucky one, she was able to quietly collect her $19M jackpot while Degli Martinez got all the attention.  That's almost as good as collecting it anonymously

He probably thought he had safely stored it until he got home.  Had he not pursued his claim with his verification receipt, that ticket might have shown up.  Sounds like NY Lottery waited for someone to show up with the ticket and explain why Martinez had the verification receipt.  They might have done some jail time with out a believable story.

HA!  Thanks for the laugh! 

  The other important thing is to sign the back of the ticket.  That way if someone picked it out of the trash, they couldn't claim it themselves.

Good point, Todd.  I always sign my tickets right after I purchase them.  Cuts down on the confusion. 

I think their unclaimed prizes are rather large, but I'm not surpised that there are some.  Think about all the $1 winners that go unnoticed or forgotten.  It adds up! 

He said he wasn't sure exactly what he was going to do with the money —except pay his daughter's college tuition.  And he isn't ready to quithis job.

But..... He had a year to figure this out... Granted he didn't know if he'd get the money or not but it seems like some plan could have been put in place and not ready to quit his job? RIIIIIIIIGHT.

"For now I'm going back to work.  At least until I can find someone toreplace me.  It's hard to leave a job you love," he said.

Yup, at least until the find a replacement, who'd likely work for less anyway so I doubt they'd hesitate.

Congrats on being double lucky, just imagine what it'd feel like if your carelessness actually cost you 20 Million. Remember that feeling because it could always still happen even though you've got it now if you're careless. Be careful, have fun and enjoy a nice retirement and since the housing market is in the toilet you should be able to find a nice place cheap or at least a lot cheaper than you would a year ago.

Now why am I addressing someone who'll never even see this topic? Maybe I should have thought of that first.... Oh well.

He is really fortunate to have won and been able to collect.
you have to remember that lotterys are not responsible for lost tickets. that is why I keep all my tickets, and log the ticket numbers in my journal. I'm surprised that this matter didn't see the inside of a courtroom.

But hey, he's living the American Dream....he's truly free now. no one owns his time, or directs the works of his hands. that in my opinion makes him a very blessed man.