Grandma Lottery Winner: Julie Cervera, a 69-year-old Disabled California Widow, Claims $23 Million Lotto Prize [VIDEO]
After months of financial struggle, Julie Cervera, a 69-year-old disabled widow and grandmother from California, finally realized that she was the lucky possessor of a golden lottery ticket that amounted to a whopping $23 million lotto prize. Cervera's daughter Charliena purchased the winning ticket five months ago. California Lottery representatives attempted to track down the winner for weeks - in the meantime, Cervera had no idea that her little slip of paper amounted to anything. Thanks to the help from a convenience store surveillance camera - and with only a few days left to redeem the prize (Nov. 26) - the California Lottery finally found Cervera and awarded the family matriarch the outstanding cash prize.
For over five months, Cervera struggled to feed her family and pay for a $600 utility bill. Now, she is a millionaire. "It hasn't hit me yet, but I'm gonna get me some Nikes. I'm going to get me five pairs of different shoes ... Now I can finally afford it."
Lottery officials recently released a surveillance video still from Michael's Market and Liquor, which photographed Charliena walking out with the winning ticket back in May. Cervera's other daughter spotted the image in the Antelope Valley Press, and gave her family a call. While the Cervera's were initially skeptical, they finally decided to look into the "missing lottery ticket" case. After some searching, Julie Cervera finally found the misplaced lotto ticket in her car's glove compartment. Cervera, who attended a news conference on Friday surrounded by her three adult children and half a dozen grandchildren, accepted a one-time cash payment of $17.8 million.
"My grandkids are all going to be taken care of, and my (three) daughters," Cervera cheerfully exclaimed. The winning ticket was purchased for the May 30 draw at Michael's Market & Liquor, located at 37935 47th St. East in Palmdale - the numbers were 14, 7, 26, 31, 23 and Mega 5.