Despite publishing surveillance photos, Calif. Lottery fails to find winner

Nov 19, 2013, 9:19 am (17 comments)

California Lottery

Despite months of trying to track him down, a mystery Lotto player in Los Angeles didn't claim his prize worth nearly half a million dollars by the deadline Monday evening.

But there's still a chance the lucky winner will pocket the $465,539 prize, according to a California Lottery spokesman.

He could have mailed in his signed ticket to the California Lottery and as long as it's postmarked by Monday, he'll get his prize. But Lotto spokesman Alex Traverso said he's never seen that happen.

Editor:  But USA Mega does remember it happening in 2001 with a New Jersey Big Game lottery winner (see the news for June 15, 2001, on that page — the NY Times link in the story still works.)

The $465,539 prize, if not claimed, will be transferred to Los Angeles public schools.

Surveillance footage was released this month of the lucky player purchasing the winning ticket on May 22 at Whitley Heights Market, located at 1900 North Highland Ave. The ticket matched 5 out of 6 numbers.

Still, the nearly 6-month-old ticket hasn't been turned in for the prize.

Two other winners, collecting $52 million and $23 million in prizes, were contacted through the help of surveillance footage.

NBC, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

That's totally to bad, i still feel they should put unclaimed money not won back into the pot and continue the game, but at least it will go towards Good Works.Big Grin Santa

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by helpmewin on Nov 19, 2013

That's totally to bad, i still feel they should put unclaimed money not won back into the pot and continue the game, but at least it will go towards Good Works.Big Grin Santa

Yes, l agree. Mr Traverso could learn alot from reading up on the USA Mega site and becoming a member of LP...* Hey Alex, its free.
As for the so called surveillance of the $52 mil winner, don't get me started.That act was all wrong! !!

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Get ready for another "I was waxing the cookie jar when suddenly I noticed a piece of paper under the fig newtons..." story at the last minute.

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Dang!!!! I Hope they mailed it in by the deadline.

ShowMeTheMoney$'s avatarShowMeTheMoney$

Poor guy!!!  When you finally win a tangible amount from the lottery, you don't get it.  For his situation, knowing really is half the battle (the other half is having the winning ticket).   Thumbs Up

ShowMeTheMoney$'s avatarShowMeTheMoney$

Since the guy probably lives in California, he could of bought a little house or condo with the winnings.  Real estate is expensive in CA.  Maybe he could of made a sizeable downpayment on a bigger home.  Hope he has better luck next time, and he actually gets to cash in a winning ticket.  Bash

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Put out a $10,000.00 reward, and somebody will identify him within 24hrs. Somebody probably knows who he is, but is not talking.Evil Smile

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

A sickening situation.  I won't misuse my big winning lottery ticket! Thinking of...

billionaire2bee

If it had been me and I'd missed the deadline...I'd just as soon not even know...I'd be hoping I'd never find that ticket, knowing that I'd missed out on a half mil

stripesnsolids's avatarstripesnsolids

There are all kinds of what if's to these kinds of situations.  Maybe the person is deceased or incarcerated.

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

Quote: Originally posted by stripesnsolids on Nov 19, 2013

There are all kinds of what if's to these kinds of situations.  Maybe the person is deceased or incarcerated.

They could also be dead or in jail, for all we know.

LottoMetro's avatarLottoMetro

There's a $16.66 million ticket that deadlines in Florida this Thursday.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by mypiemaster on Nov 19, 2013

Put out a $10,000.00 reward, and somebody will identify him within 24hrs. Somebody probably knows who he is, but is not talking.Evil Smile

great idea Thumbs Up

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

When they say it's "going to the schools".

That's code for "it's going to the thugs of the teachers union."

And I would ask why should they get it?

That is money put in there by the players on the expectation it would be won by the players.

They should put it back in the jackpot or conduct a separate drawing for it.

If that's against the rules then they should change the rules.

That's the players' money, not the union thugs'.

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