Baltimore woman claims top prize on instant ticket hidden since September
Zombie fans who are still snatching up The Walking Dead scratch-off tickets can stick a fork in their dream of winning the game’s last $10,000 top prize: It’s done.
Of course, there are still more than 44,000 other unclaimed prizes of $2 to $400 available on this Maryland Lottery scratch-off. The winning tickets are awaiting discovery at Lottery retailers or are in the hands of players such as our Baltimore scratch-off fan. She found the final $10,000 winning scratch-off last September and hid it because she didn’t plan to spend the prize until later this summer.
What drew her to buy the $2 ticket? The 64-year-old said she still has not watched the AMC TV show “The Walking Dead” and actually favors $10 scratch-offs. She was simply paying for her purchase at Golden Star Carryout located at 226 North Gay Street in Baltimore when Lottery luck arrived on the scene.
“The game had just come out,” she said. “They say, ‘You should play these new ones, you might win.’ I had $2 and some change so I said, ‘Let me play that ticket.’”
She did and she won! After signing the back of the scratch-off, the Maryland state employee hid it in a place so secret she still won’t reveal the location. Months passed and she didn’t claim her prize or tell anyone about her win.
“There was no rush for me to cash it,” she said. Players can claim winning tickets on this game through Sept. 28. The Maryland native plans to share her secret prize with her family on their upcoming out-of-state vacation. She even has a photo of herself in the Winner’s Lounge at Lottery headquarters to show everyone when she shares her good news!