Florida couple, nearly penniless, claim half of $414M lottery jackpot

May 1, 2014, 9:05 pm (70 comments)

Mega Millions

She had less than $5 cash with her when she filed for bankruptcy two years ago, but Tuesday, a Merritt Island, Florida, woman held a giant novelty check for more than $200 million in lottery winnings.

Federal court documents show Robyn Ann Collier's personal property on April 30, 2012 included $4.73 "cash on hand." In February this year, her boyfriend was laid off from his job at a boat-building company, according to their attorney, David Presnick.

But in March, Collier bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a Sunoco gas station on South Courtenay Parkway on Merritt Island, according to a release. She and her boyfriend, Raymond Moyer, had the winning numbers.

"We didn't know we had won until the next morning when the numbers were on the news," Collier said in a release. "I paused the TV and ran to get the ticket to double check the numbers and when I realized they all matched I jumped off the couch in excitement and told Raymond we had won."

"I didn't believe her until I saw the store where we purchased the ticket on the news," Moyer said in a release. "It was definitely a shock, but it is an incredible blessing that will allow us to do many things we would not have had the opportunity to do before."

The Merritt Island winners split the $414 million jackpot with one other winner from Maryland — nobody has claimed that prize yet.

The winnings were awarded in one lump-sum payment: $115,448,968. The money was deposited in the Cobie and Seamus Trust, named after Moyer and Collier's dogs, according to Florida Lottery Spokeswoman Shelly Gerteisen. Moyer and Collier are members of the trust. Gerteisen explained that a trust is not uncommon for winners of large jackpots.

Collier said in a video that she still plans to work. Moyer said they would make investments and go traveling — he wants to take Collier to Ireland.

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

AP, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

maringoman's avatarmaringoman

Now thats wassup!

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

Very cool! Congrats to them on their big win. Smile

Artist77's avatarArtist77

And they are going to go to ND football games!  My type of people! We are ND! We are ND!!!!!

Marilyn222's avatarMarilyn222

What a blessings...I'm happy for them.Smile

OldSchoolHits

Quote: Originally posted by Artist77 on May 1, 2014

And they are going to go to ND football games!  My type of people! We are ND! We are ND!!!!!

I saw that in the news yesterday, too!!! Yeah baby!!! GO IRISH!!!

mypiemaster's avatarmypiemaster

Nice looking couple. God bless them.

Toronto

Congrats to them

Decadesofv

Congrats May God continue to Bless and Protect you all I'm claiming my Blessing its Coming lolI Agree!

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

congratulation Robyn & Raymond Hurray!

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Stooges

golfer1960's avatargolfer1960

I'm not jealous of them, I am happy for them. That is unusual.

 

congratulations

Mattapan

Why is it that nearly every person who wins a huge jackpot say, "I'm going to continue to work"? Is this a required statement to make in public so it would seem you're going to stay grounded? If i take home anything over 5 million, I will never work again! I'll have hobbies but as far as working, nope.

IPlayWeekly's avatarIPlayWeekly

Congrats, this is a great story... I'm leaving my job with a 2 million win

magic 007

Despite my state of florida not allowing anonimity, isnt there a way for their attorneys to claim this in their names (attorneys) but regardless it goes to the trust the lucky winners established. 

Because as we can see the media is already digging into their records, talking about lost jobs, bankruptcy and who knows what else may come up in the near future. No one wants to deal with all that!!

So my question is , is there a way their attorneys can go around this? (loophole i shd say). I know it may cost a lot of money , but its something i would def consider if i won "even' 1M.

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