Sha
01-08-2004, 02:52 PM
Now this really bothers me...she lied and made the real winner look like a thief! What are people thinking these days??
Ohio Woman Drops Claim to Lottery Ticket
By M.R. KROPKO
Associated Press Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A woman who told police she bought and lost a lottery ticket worth $162 million all but admitted Thursday she made it up, saying tearfully: "I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize."
Elecia Battle, 40, said she is dropping her lawsuit over the Mega Millions jackpot that was awarded Tuesday to 34-year-old Rebecca Jemison.
Battle apologized to her husband, Jemison and her lawyer.
"I'm not a bad person. I'm really not," she said. "Everyone has a past."
Days after the Dec. 30 drawing, Battle filed a police report saying she lost the winning ticket, possibly when she dropped her purse outside a convenience store.
Police in suburban South Euclid, where the winning ticket was sold, said Battle will probably be charged with filing a false police report - a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
"I think what she's saying is what everybody else is inferring - that she's lying," Lt. Kevin Nietert said.
The Ohio Lottery said it knew the truth all along. Jemison provided another ticket bought at the same time and place and had a ticket that showed she had played the same numbers in the prior drawing, the lottery said.
"We were confident with our decision from the onset to award Rebecca Jemison the $162 million Mega Millions jackpot, and we are pleased that this matter has been resolved," lottery Director Dennis G. Kennedy said.
Jemison, of South Euclid, has an unlisted number, and a call to her account was not immediately returned.
Battle said she wanted to use the money to help her family and recently laid-off Cleveland police officers.
"I wanted to win," she said with a shaky voice. "The numbers were so overwhelming. I did buy a ticket and I lost it. I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize."
When she was asked directly if she lied, Battle's lawyer, Sheldon Starke, refused to let her answer.
Battle has a criminal record that includes assault on a drug store clerk and misuse of another person's credit card.
---
On the Net:
http://www.megamillions.com
Ohio Woman Drops Claim to Lottery Ticket
By M.R. KROPKO
Associated Press Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A woman who told police she bought and lost a lottery ticket worth $162 million all but admitted Thursday she made it up, saying tearfully: "I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize."
Elecia Battle, 40, said she is dropping her lawsuit over the Mega Millions jackpot that was awarded Tuesday to 34-year-old Rebecca Jemison.
Battle apologized to her husband, Jemison and her lawyer.
"I'm not a bad person. I'm really not," she said. "Everyone has a past."
Days after the Dec. 30 drawing, Battle filed a police report saying she lost the winning ticket, possibly when she dropped her purse outside a convenience store.
Police in suburban South Euclid, where the winning ticket was sold, said Battle will probably be charged with filing a false police report - a misdemeanor punishable by 30 days to six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.
"I think what she's saying is what everybody else is inferring - that she's lying," Lt. Kevin Nietert said.
The Ohio Lottery said it knew the truth all along. Jemison provided another ticket bought at the same time and place and had a ticket that showed she had played the same numbers in the prior drawing, the lottery said.
"We were confident with our decision from the onset to award Rebecca Jemison the $162 million Mega Millions jackpot, and we are pleased that this matter has been resolved," lottery Director Dennis G. Kennedy said.
Jemison, of South Euclid, has an unlisted number, and a call to her account was not immediately returned.
Battle said she wanted to use the money to help her family and recently laid-off Cleveland police officers.
"I wanted to win," she said with a shaky voice. "The numbers were so overwhelming. I did buy a ticket and I lost it. I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize."
When she was asked directly if she lied, Battle's lawyer, Sheldon Starke, refused to let her answer.
Battle has a criminal record that includes assault on a drug store clerk and misuse of another person's credit card.
---
On the Net:
http://www.megamillions.com