The winner of a $16.5 million Hot Lotto ticket apparently will remain a mystery until next week, at least, Iowa Lottery officials said today.
And the lottery’s security chief, Steve Bogle, said he wants to interview anyone who has possessed the ticket before he recommends payment of the prize.
The trustee for owner Hexam Investments Trust, Crawford Shaw, had planned to answer lottery security officers’ questions about ownership of the ticket this week, but plane schedules apparently delayed the visit, said lottery CEO Terry Rich.
Shaw told the Associated Press today that he plans to meet with lottery officials Monday.
The member or members of the trust have not been identified, leading to a frenzy of questions. The lottery hasn’t seen a similar case in its 26-year history.
The lottery has confirmed the ticket is authentic and has no evidence it was stolen said Bogle. It appears to have been legally purchased at a Quik Trip in Des Moines.
Rich said the prize could be claimed any time, but the schedule depends on Shaw. The prize winner already has lost $2 million on the annuity option by waiting.
Current estimates are the winner would get $7.5 million cash after taxes, or 25 payments of $400,328 after taxes.
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