February 28th $46.6 million Powerball jackpot still unclaimed
Saturday, April 11, 2009 posted 11:42 AM EDT
Six weeks have passed since someone - the world is still wondering who - went to Plymouth Meeting Mall and bought a Powerball ticket worth $46.6 million.
Cash.
Ben Bow's Package Store in Dover, Del., sold the only other Feb. 28 winner, and that person's identity is also still a mystery.
Together, those tickets are eligible to split a jackpot with an annuity value of $174.4 million.
But who?
Sometimes word leaks out before those tight-lipped lottery officials name names and present one of those oversize checks.
Not this time.
Google turns up no news outlets or blogs with speculations to share.
Customers keep inquiring at the mall, but no one's even heard a good rumor, spokeswoman Melonie Messina said yesterday.
"I'd want my money. Who knows?" she said. "Maybe they're just being really cautious. Hopefully, they didn't throw away the ticket."
Or leave it in a pair of pants that got tossed in the wash.
Most winners come forward within two weeks.
Pennsylvania has sold winning Powerball tickets a dozen times before, but only four winners took three weeks or longer to be claimed.
The longest time was taken by Edward Varley, 74, of Hatfield, in 2002.
Sixty-six days passed before the lottery announced he would collect $30.8 million in cash.
One of the quickest claims was made in October by 22 Philadelphia postal workers. They needed just three days to reveal they would split $10.2 million in cash.
Maybe word gets out faster when groups win.
Last month, just one day after a ticket in New Jersey hit a $216 million annuity prize, photos of the winning ticket were on the news.
Officially, though, it took two weeks for the winners - 10 Hunterdon County insurance company employees - to claim their $140 million cash prize.
The Pennsylvania Lottery, which oversees Powerball in the state, was mum about whether anyone had even called yet to ask about the validation process.
"Whether or not we heard rumors, we wouldn't comment on them," spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said.
The winner must present the original signed ticket at lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County, she said.
If the visit happens early enough, an announcement could be made the same day, she said.
In Pennsylvania, winners have one year from the date of a drawing, or an instant game's final sale date, to claim a prize.
If you bought tickets at the mall or the Dover store, you might want to check them.
They should be dated Feb. 28, 2009.
You're looking for one with the numbers 3, 16, 20, 42 and 58, with a Powerball of 7.
Should you be so incredibly lucky, after you calm down, follow the official advice.
First, sign the ticket.
Then be sure to get good legal and financial guidance.
Even if it takes time
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