Couple collect lottery winnings after misplacing ticket

Mar 28, 2014, 8:31 am (21 comments)

Mega Millions

A Downers Grove, Illinois, couple claimed a $1 million lottery prize Thursday after a brief but frantic search for their winning ticket.

Cathy and Dave Seiden won the prize after matching five numbers on their Mega Millions ticket for the March 18 drawing.

Cathy Seiden bought the ticket at her regular Jewel-Osco in nearby Woodridge, something she said she does every couple of weeks.

She gave the ticket to her husband, and they forgot about it until one of Cathy's co-workers told her that a winning ticket was sold at that Jewel.

"She called me right away and was like, 'We've got to find that ticket,'" Dave Seiden said.

The pair proceeded to "tear the house apart" for the ticket, which they still did not realize was a winner. They found it mixed up in some papers.

"I looked at my son, and I said, 'Are you seeing the same thing I'm seeing?'" Dave Seiden said.

Cathy Seiden is a first-grade teacher in Downers Grove Grade School District 58, and Dave Seiden is part of the technology staff at Valley View Community Unit School District 365U in Romeoville. Their $700,000 lump-sum payment will go toward the college funds for their two children, one of whom is a high school junior.

And they plan to keep playing every now and then, as usual.

"From now on, all tickets go through me and they go to the magnet on the fridge," Cathy Seiden said.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Chicago Tribune, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

sully16's avatarsully16

Glad they found the ticket, Congrats to Dave and Cathy

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Wow close call Congrats on finding the ticket and cashing it in Cathy and Dave Seiden Hurray!

("From now on, all tickets go through me and they go to the magnet on the fridge," Cathy Seiden said.)

GREAT IDEA Thumbs Up              Please Play Responsibly.

                             

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

How long did it take them to find the car keys so they could go claim the prize?

psykomo's avatarpsykomo

HMW:

Thanks 2U and this  lottery news>>>>>>>>>>>>>post Psyko has 2 magnet

clips on D fridge "now">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!

ALSO:

Went through a stack of old ticket'$$$$$$$ that won $1>$2>$5 & a $50 dollar

winner that never have bothered 2 CASH>N>>>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!

                               PartyDance Party

noise-gate

"Tearing the house apart- finding the ticket amongst papers"

Where does Todd find these " gems"?

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by noise-gate on Mar 28, 2014

"Tearing the house apart- finding the ticket amongst papers"

Where does Todd find these " gems"?

Well, noise-gate, the Chicago Tribune is a major newspaper!

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by psykomo on Mar 28, 2014

HMW:

Thanks 2U and this  lottery news>>>>>>>>>>>>>post Psyko has 2 magnet

clips on D fridge "now">>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!

ALSO:

Went through a stack of old ticket'$$$$$$$ that won $1>$2>$5 & a $50 dollar

winner that never have bothered 2 CASH>N>>>>>>>$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!

                               PartyDance Party

psykomo, say you got 2 of them >Magnets are great Attraction 2 >Wealth & Prosperity

You get Magnetic POWERS Magnet for MONEY you maybe Chick Magnet DanceBananaLover

IPlayWeekly's avatarIPlayWeekly

I still find it amazing that people are so careless when they buy tickets. I keep my tickets in the same place every week.

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by IPlayWeekly on Mar 28, 2014

I still find it amazing that people are so careless when they buy tickets. I keep my tickets in the same place every week.

I Agree! i keep my tickets in my car there they will be safe

Gleno's avatarGleno

Good to read that they found their million dollar winning ticket. It would have been a tragedy if it was lost and the prize money went back to the state.

Party

Gleno's avatarGleno

Right on about placing tickets in a "safe place" or somewhere else that is specially dedicated for lottery tickets, so they can be found without a problem.

My only reservation about keeping them in a vehicle, is that if there is a fire they could be destroyed, or if the vehicle breaks down and needs a tow, they could be picked up bysomeone other than the owner of the car or truck. 

Yours Truly, removes them from the bill fold after getting home and places them in one spot on the dresser.If the tickets have any prize money, they go back to the bill fold to be redeemed next time at the lottery vendor. 

After they are checked then they can be moved somewhere else, if you keep them, for a tax write off, in the event you hit a big jackpot. Know most folks just throw them away after checking them. 

Every one has their own way of keeping track of their tickets, no doubt. You just want to make sure the kids or pets can't get access to them. Used to have a dog that loved to eat paper. 

Hyper

noise-gate

Quote: Originally posted by Gleno on Mar 28, 2014

Right on about placing tickets in a "safe place" or somewhere else that is specially dedicated for lottery tickets, so they can be found without a problem.

My only reservation about keeping them in a vehicle, is that if there is a fire they could be destroyed, or if the vehicle breaks down and needs a tow, they could be picked up bysomeone other than the owner of the car or truck. 

Yours Truly, removes them from the bill fold after getting home and places them in one spot on the dresser.If the tickets have any prize money, they go back to the bill fold to be redeemed next time at the lottery vendor. 

After they are checked then they can be moved somewhere else, if you keep them, for a tax write off, in the event you hit a big jackpot. Know most folks just throw them away after checking them. 

Every one has their own way of keeping track of their tickets, no doubt. You just want to make sure the kids or pets can't get access to them. Used to have a dog that loved to eat paper. 

Hyper

Which is worse G- someone picking up your tickets or your vehicle catching on fire while towed?

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

I always have a rough idea where my ticket is.  I don't have one particular place where I put it. Cathy n Dave congrats in finding your ticket and collecting that bread. Thumbs Up

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Quote: Originally posted by Gleno on Mar 28, 2014

Good to read that they found their million dollar winning ticket. It would have been a tragedy if it was lost and the prize money went back to the state.

Party

I Agree!

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