Woman loses $162m winning lottery ticket

A woman picked the winning numbers to scoop nearly $162m (€127m) on an American lottery – but then discovered she had lost the ticket.

Elecia Battle dropped her purse after buying the Mega Millions Lottery ticket last week and believes the ticket blew away.

Later today she was expected to hold a news conference to offer a reward in return for the ticket.

But anyone who finds the winning ticket is entitled to keep the lot.

Police believe Mrs Battle’s story and lottery officials have confirmed that the winning ticket was sold at the convenience store visited by the pharmacy worker.

“I’m praying that someone finds the ticket, brings it forward and gets rewarded and from there we all live happily ever after,” she said.

Mrs Battle, from Cleveland, Ohio, said: “I’m just praying it has a positive ending.”

Police said Mrs Battle was in tears when she went to her local station to file a lost property report on Friday.

“We don’t believe that she’s fabricating it, but there’s no real way of knowing other than going on her word,” said a police spokesman.

He said Mrs Battle gave a sound explanation as to how she chose her numbers, 12, 18, 21, 32 and 46 and Mega Ball 49, based on family birthdays and ages.

To make matters worse, whoever finds the ticket is legally entitled to the cash. People have been scouring the area near to the shop, 15 miles out of Cleveland, in search of the ticket.

One hopeful hunter, LaVerne Coleman, said: “I decided to come back to see if I could find the winning ticket.”

The 57-year-old small-business owner said she would split the millions with her sons and employees.

The police spokesman added: “Whoever has the ticket has the right to stake the claim to the winning jackpot.

“You can file all the police reports you want but it’s not going to help,” he added.

Mrs Battle’s husband, Jimmy Battle, has two jobs, including a paper round. The couple have seven children, some from previous marriages, aged from 13 to 30.

“To have something in your hand and have it slip out is a tough thing to swallow,” said Mr Battle, 48.

If the jackpot is not claimed by June 27, the money goes to Ohio and 10 other states that participate in the game.