Includes video report
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The winner of a $34.5 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot wants to remain anonymous, but a woman who claims to be his estranged wife is demanding a piece of the prize.
The lottery winner, whose name was not released, came forward Friday morning and took a lump sum of $15.9 million, lottery officials said.
The winning ticket was sold in Shelbyville at the Smokers Host store at 903 S. Harrison St.
Ericka Prather, of Shelbyville, said she and lotto winner James Prather got married Feb. 14, 2008, and have two children together, who live with her.
She said they've had an on again, off again relationship, but had been together recently and never formally divorced.
But Ericka Prather claims her estranged husband called her earlier this week with a request.
"He goes, 'I got a question. Can we make our divorce final?' And I was like, it was just out of nowhere," she said. "I was like, 'Is it because you hit the lottery?' He's like, 'Huh?' and tried to say that he didn't, and then he's like, 'Yeah, I did.'"
Ericka Prather hired a Carmel attorney to help her collect what she believes is her rightful share of her estranged husband's new-found wealth.
"As long as two parties are married, they have claims on what's in the marital estate," said attorney Andrew Thompson. "In general, each party is entitled to an equal division of marital property at the time of separation under Indiana law."
Ericka Prather said her estranged husband, who owns a contracting business in Shelbyville, has stopped talking to her and has cut her off financially.
"I feel like I was put out there with nothing," she said. "I've worked for him since I've been with him."
Unless the couple can work out a settlement, it will be up to a court decide how expensive the divorce will be for the newly minted millionaire.
Thanks to TheRightPrice and B$Rizzle for the tip.
Really James ? REALLY ?.....There you have it folks !!! I can understand the remaining anonymous aspect if its allowed under Indiana law , but not having the common sense to tell your (still married) spouse. Anyone with the IQ of a handball would know they have to share equally with their on again off again legally married partner. One word describes his actions, "GORMLESS"
Estranged or not, this guy is a loser. $15 million less taxes isn't enough for you that you can't give her and your kids a piece.
Come on man! Whatta tool. Hope karma kicks ya right in the -.
She is jumping with joy..I get half! I get half!, I get half!
Child support, too! I hit the the lottery!!! Ha-ha-ha-ha!!!
and she should.....
Whoa. How many days was he sitting on this winner before the lawyer came forward? Two? Three? Sit on it for awhile. Claiming in while it is still news in a small-ish town...
Nonetheless, in the eyes of the law and lottery, you are either married or not. Take care of your family.
If I was her, I would really worry about my back. Some folks are so greedy for money that they will do anything to keep it.
I was starting to wonder: I understand her getting a lawyer involved, but why did she bother kicking the hornets nest by going on TV?
No He Didn't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James really wasn't thinking ahead. He should have had his parents claim the ticket for him and then told his wife he wanted to finalize his divorce then quit working. That way it would appear that his parents were paying for his lifestyle.
I fully believe that James would have not only continued to pay his child support, he would have paid all their bills and he probably would have given her some money, but not half. Now he's screwed.
I am not trying to say what he was attempting to do was right, but having been divorced, I would have done it to keep my ex from getting half of MY winnings. I would gladly pay all my kids bills, college, cars. But I'd rather not give her the time of day.
Just sayin.
And on the flip side: he's so greedy and distrustful, that the dumb s**t doesn't give the ticket to his mother, cousin, or best friend to cash?! Now... pay the Lady! hahahahaha
(But... why you on TV??)
I'm glad his wife found out the truth, even from him. She is entitled to some of the money for herself, (they're still married) and for the children. I'm so glad he didn't have someone claim it for him. If that happened I hope the person renigs on the promise and they have a long battle in court. It's amazing, I'm good enough for you when everything is average yet when you excell, (still married) i should be cut out. Having worked for him since business started I'm sure she contributed to it's success or whatever state the business is in.
Good for her!!!!!!!!
This guy is stupid all he had to do was talk to her about a divorce and proceed with it before claiming the ticket
Anytime you win the lottery if you are seperated, have a messy situation, or live in a common law state more than likely the
Sposes attorney will put up a big argument over why he feels you are rightfully entitled to any of the money.
This story gets me sick. Strange lady and guy who doesn't like his wife wins the lottery. Now the girl wants to be a creep and try to get some money. I'm never getting married.
Yet another example, for we lottery players, that a gambler doesn't have to be a 'respector of others' in order to receive a great fortune. Come one, come all gamblers!
Don't EVER get married New York. You can take that to the bank. (as long as your not married
)
What make you think his family and friends would have been less greedy and distrustful than him? Years ago a guy from Pennsylvania won an Ohio Super Lotto jackpot of $60M and had his girlfriend cash-in his ticket to avoid sharing it with estranged wife. She left him with her half and he still had to share the half he had with his estranged wife which after lawyer fees and such ended up being less than 20% of the original prize amount.
Absolutely correct. That "Greed" thread runs through us all.
Better off leaving it to your dog, one of the few remaining friends you can depend on.
Well, apparently they've each liked each other occasionally.
They are still legally married, so he has to pay. Tough luck buddy.
And there are two kids, so pony up the child support too. Should have gotten a divorce. Expensive lesson learned.
In the past, some pets have bitten their dependable care givers.
In addition to being very dangerous, because after all you never know what people will do, it is very illegal. Concealment.
I don't know how easy it would have been, but if he got caught, he could lose everything. In the end this was the best thing to do. He should either never have gotten married or he should have divorced her right away. On the plus side, if the tables were turned and she won, he would be in the same position as her looking at collecting millions of dollars.
And vice-versa!
Any way you look at it, his winnings equals at least 5 times what he would earn with a decent job in a life time. Most men have to support their family earning a lot less, why should anyone fell sorry for him having to do the same with more.
That is a pretty universal headline:
"_____ wants part of _____'s lotto jackpot"
Brother
Son
Coworker
Ex-husband
Teacher
Grandfather
Brother
Fortune teller
Boss
Sister
Dog walker
Mailman...
What a complete & total tool. What's the matter, James; can't give your legally married wife half & find a way to live on almost $8 Million? What about your kids? You just showed the world how utterly clueless & classless you are; you're now a pariah in the small town you live in. What a dumbass...
Regardless of the state of their marriage he should do right by his wife and children. Instead of offering her at least a portion of the money he chose to be be deceiptive about it. In the end it's going to bite him in the @ss and she will end up with half the money and he will be stuck paying for a high cost lawyer. If the knuckle head haves any sense he should settle out of court and give her about 5 million....that still leaves him with over 10 million after taxes. I'm sure he can get by on that. He managed to get by on far less that over the course of his life. It's like the marine who hit the jackpot and credited it to karma, there is both good and bad karma and if he chooses not to do right by his wife he will regret it in the end. What goes around comes around!
People still get married? People still separate for long periods of time without bothering with divorce? people still havent the lesson of other greedy spouses who have been caught trying to conceal lottery winning from their spouses? This guy should have just came clean, tell the wife she gets 50% as child support and alimony and not a penny more and make her sign an agreement. If she was smart, she would have happily accepted and the story wouldnt have got all this publicity. Now the lawyers will cash in, both her and husband have been outed and so the begging hands will be shoved at them everywhere they go.
Yeahhhh for the lawyers!
Does not make any difference if he got his divorce or not law states when the game was drawn, not when ticket gets cashed in. So Now Judge will probably look at him as idiot and give her half then take child support out of husbands half.So instead of giving her half for her and kids now he will most likely get less than half.Every week or month be reminded what an idiot he is when making child support payments till kids are out of college LOL OH YEAH lets not forget paying lawyer for this dumb move..betting lawyer is happy camper, didn't even have to buy ticket yet is a winner.
NY:
Clam down<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Do U wanna B tough?????????????????????????????????????????????
Do U wanna B mocho man ????????????????????????????????????????
give:
GULL'S A "chance">>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <!>
I can't believe he couldn't come through with a better approach to finalize the divorce without spilling the beans.He deserves to get plucked for evcerything he's worth.
I hope She gets ALL Of the MONEY.
I hope this guy ,has set up a trust for the kids,and planned giving his ex but still married wife.Because those two lawyers will milk um.I hope the guys lawyer thought of more than dollar signs when he set up the LLC.
Because the ex probably only wants a house that dosent have wheels.And not ,...have to buy her furniture at "BIG LOTS".And a couple of tickets to the the rodeo, ok and maybe a new purse ,the bowling bag is to casual.
its people like this that give players that want to remain anonymous a bad name. hope the lawyers take every thing
The lawyers will do a great job picking them clean of everything, like scavengers they are experts at shredding and swallowing whatever they can get
their hands on. If lawyers can't take them for everything....no one can!
It was already too late. he had already won. His subsequent divorce would have had absolutely no effect. she still would have gotten half.
Littleoldlady is correct.
We know he liked her at least "twice". Really liked her.
Nice catch Erica - many blessings to you and your children.
Estranged husband wins, calls wife seeking for divorce.
Husband blabs to estranged wife, wife wants half.
Wife gets media attention with her demand.
Two kids involved, that is a tricky one.
Wait a minute, wife just exposed husband to all and sundry.....
Boy, this is going to be a good one...........FOR THE LAWYERS!
Get paternity tested, too.
Learn the law- He can and most likely will ask for joint or primary custody of the kids to prevent any child support. Who's to say the courts wont allow that. Secondly just because the law "allows the right to half" doesnt mean the judge will rule that way. This is specifically for the state of Indiana. Maybe she runs up the bills and caused debts, maybe she is not the angelic mother...
If this lady can't learn to stand up and support herself...then I personally don't see why she "deserves" to mooch off his fair winning. None of us here know them so speculate til dooms day the fact is...They are headed for divorce and the judge will make the decision not any of us.
It's not the keeping anoymous part, it's the 'how do you explain $17.0 mil that pops up in your bank account? You can try to hide it but the court can demand you show it, then your in more trouble than when you started. His wife, with the common use of 'like' as if it were a noun, figured it out so this guy had better settle. Seems he wanted to have his cake and lottery win too.
Finally, the judge has limited say in how the estate (that's what it is now in legal terms) is divided. For example, if they were in a state of separation (there is no such thing as 'legal separation'-your either married or divorced in the eyes of the law) towards being divorced, that would weigh in his favor. It he was keeping his pants on (her too) and not sleeping with her, then that would influence the case as well. But, if he was parking in the lot when he needed a parking space, and not 'in separation' he can pretty well say good-bye to half the dough. And, if he is sincere about his anoymous claim, he'd better settle or else divorce proceeding become public. Either way, it'll be hard to keep it quiet now.
What worries me is that people will see this as a reason not to allow winners to claim 'with choice' and not have to claim publicly. Everyone who has been divorced knows that part of the process is submitting tax returns, not just regular HR Block ones but returns that have been 'vetted'. Even if he just claims interest income I'll bet that's a bit more than he was making down at the plant in Shelbyville.
I think I recall vaguely another case not long ago where I think a guy tried to hide winnings from his estranged wife and the judge wound up giving her all of it if I'm not mistaken.
Hell ain't got no fury like ex-wives who think you might not be quite as miserable as they'd like you to be.
if they like houses that can really be a problem.
Oh, they all like houses.
Divorce, Divorce, Divorce! He should have divorced her a long time ago! Dumb move on his part. Maybe he can hire a hit man?
Based upon what we know of how this weasel tried hiding his winnings from his ex, with no indication he wanted to morally or financially support his
young children, and only then tries to convince ex for a divorce.........he's going to be on the losing end of the stick.
He made his bed, now hes got to sleep in it, along the greedy lawyers. In the court of public opinion hes already lost...........the legal court
decision will soon follow.
Now that there is a suggestion of the most stupidest order! Have you not followed the cases of husbands who have offed their wives? Illinois former police officer in prison! Only mothers who kill their kids seem to get off Scott free (Casey Anthony). I would have just told her and then came to an amiable decision for a divorce settlement. I know the smart thing would have been to get the divorce finalized BEFORE he even won, but relationships are tricky deals and him coming clean would have been the better option especially since young children are involved. Maybe the courts would have understood his move if it were he that had custody of the kids and the woman was living irresponsibly. But trying to cut off a woman who is raising your kids....man even I wouldn't stoop that low to try to cut her off from all the winnings.
Like everything else, its illegal if you get caught. ;) You ever drive over the speed limit? Roll through a stop sign?
Sometimes people are not financially able to get a divorce and decide to just separate and move on with their lives. I have seen it several times. That might be the case here, we don't know. If they have been separated for a while, she might not be entitled to half his winnings.
His best bet now would be to consult an attorney and settle out of court and give her an amount that would be more than she would get if they go to court and the judge awards her half minus the attorneys fees.
I think a reasonably sane guy would offer her 60% of the 15 Mill to make the divorce and the mess to all go away... if she said no, then go chat with nasty evil pr*ck of an atty.....after all, why cause more stress ?? Unless you enjoy the drama and headaches
She probably went on television to let other prospective still married winners (male or female), not to deceive others. Karma and doing until others as..... -- certainly was not in the man's frame of mind. What decent, moral man ignores his kids -- should have thought about that before making them, sir.
The audacity to ask his wife for a speedy divorce: what was she supposed to say, "why, yes, dear -- anything you want, dear?" Yeah, perhaps, the 1950s -- sir, this is 2012, not your great-grandmother's generation.
Take care of your children dirtball, yes if that means giving your wife or soon to be ex-wife some money.
I hope that they reach agreement out of court ..........
What! kind of person are you to have a man who is clearly, "said by estranged wife been sleeping off and on with her to off her. The worst thing is she has kids and they happen to be his kids. you need to be ashame of yourself. But that what greed will do take people lives. That piece of sh$t should take care his kids.I am sure the judge will make that clear.Good job wife-e.
Simba774, please cease attempting to increase business for assassins through this website!
Hey Simba,
Brilliant solution. If the situation was reversed, you'd be the one wearing those concrete shoes on your way to the bottom of a deep river.
Any though's on that scenario?
Equal sex rights and all that stuff you know.....
60%!?!? NO EFFING WAY! See you in court.
I'd offer her 40% with no child support or alimony, me 50%, kids 5% each, plus, I would pay for all of their schooling.
Thats $6,360,000 for her, $7,950,000 for me and $795,000 for each kid.