Missed jackpot years earlier fuels woman’s $2 million win, California Lottery says

When Mehret Werrede won $75 on the first three tickets from a new roll of Instant Prize Crossword scratchers six years ago, she was satisfied with her winnings — at first.

Then she learned the fourth ticket on the roll landed someone else a $2 million jackpot the next day, California Lottery officials said in a news release.

“It was a horrible feeling,” Werrede said. “It’s actually what’s kept me trying.”

Her persistence paid off with a $2 million Instant Prize Crossword jackpot of her own, purchased in La Habra in Orange County, the lottery said Oct. 31.

“I couldn’t believe it finally happened,” Werrede said. “I was shocked! I went home to tell my husband what happened. He didn’t really believe it until I got my check.”

Christopher Lopez also won a $2 million Instant Prize Crossword jackpot at a Studio City gas station in Los Angeles, lottery officials said.

“I saw one comma then another, and I said, ‘Oh my God!’” Lopez said. “The clerk said, ‘what is it?’ and I said, ‘I won.’ It was great but also frightening at the same time — that much money.”

Lopez previously won $200 and $2,000 jackpots in the game.

This story was originally published November 1, 2023 at 11:16 AM with the headline "Missed jackpot years earlier fuels woman’s $2 million win, California Lottery says."