Over a month has gone by since a winning Mega Millions ticket was sold at the 7-Eleven in Belle, West Virginia, but nobody has come forward to claim the $1 million prize.
The ticket was a winner in the Mega Millions draw held December 17, and West Virginia Lottery representative, Nikki Orcutt, is mystified as to why the winner has failed to claim their prize.
"We don’t know if someone either has the ticket or has thrown it away on accident or is just simply waiting for the right day to claim the prize. It is still outstanding," Orcutt said, but she thinks it may be possible they are just biding their time.
"Sometimes you just have people who want to plan and prepare for receiving the amount of money they'll get at one time. Maybe they’re just developing their plan of action," Orcutt explained, stating that its impossible to know until the 180 day deadline has passed.
"Unless we receive a call from a player with the actual serial number on the bottom of the ticket to validate it over the phone." she went on, "we would have no way of knowing who the ticket was sold to."
There is plenty of time before the 180 day deadline is reached, and the lottery still hopes the winner will come forward, but if they don't the money will be placed in the unclaimed prize fund.
The owner of the 7-Eleven store where the ticket was purchased will still receive a bonus for selling a winning ticket, but if the prize isn't claimed they will have to wait until after the 180 day deadline expires.
