Teia Lewis of Laurel won $30,000 on a Twisted Treasures scratch-off ticket she |
Laurel Woman Shares Twisted Treasures Winnings with Waldorf Man
A lucky Laurel woman found a $30,000 winner and two $50 winning tickets among a few Twisted Treasures scratch-offs she bought during a determined five-day treasure hunt for that specific scratch-off.
While she wants family and friends to share in her happiness, Teia Lewis jokes that they should keep their physical distance. “Don’t get too close and rub the luck off,” she said, laughing with the Waldorf man who came to Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore to share the $30,000 win with her.
This lifelong Lottery player and former sales clerk had never hit it big in the past. While she enjoys Pick 3, Pick 4, Mega Millions and Powerball, she loves scratch-offs, especially the Bingo games.
Her five-day hunt for treasure began last week and ended with her 10th ticket purchase. “On Friday, I bought the first ticket and I hit for $50,” Teia said. Deciding she liked this scratch-off, the single mother-of-two boys and one girl — ages 10, 5 and 2 — started hunting for Twisted Treasures scratch-offs at her local Lottery retailers.
Her weekend ticket purchases, though, were a bust. Monday came and went with no winner. The lucky lady didn’t give up hope. On Tuesday, she and a friend bought a winning $50 Twisted Treasures ticket. The two cashed the ticket and went their separate ways, with Teia stopping on her way home to buy gas, lunch and another Twisted Treasures ticket. She began scratching the final ticket at home.
“There it was again,” the 31-year-old said, “another winning ticket. I thought, ‘Let me see what the prize is,’ and I saw $30,000!” She thanked the heavens for the money to help her make several major changes in her life.
Teia is sharing the prize with a 31-year-old “mystery man” from Waldorf. While he plans to give her some of the money and invest the rest, Teia has several goals for her winnings. She wants to buy a vehicle to replace her 1992 Ford Tempo, which has so many miles the odometer has rolled over at least once. Her birthday is coming up and she wants to REALLY celebrate but hasn’t decided how. Her biggest goal is a career change. A liquor store clerk at two businesses from age 18 until this May, Teia plans to apply her winnings to career training for a job in the medical field.
She found her Lottery luck at the Laurel Crown at 14982 Baltimore Avenue in Laurel.