She Won $2.5 Million—Then Accidentally Gave It Away
Imagine winning $2.5 million—then realizing you may have given it away to charity by mistake. That’s the surreal situation 76-year-old Mildred Simoneriluto finds herself in after misplacing a winning Cash 5 lottery ticket in Pennsylvania.
The ticket, purchased at a grocery store in Murrysville in May 2024, matched all five winning numbers: 14, 22, 33, 35, and 38. But Simoneriluto can’t cash in—because she no longer has the physical ticket.
The Ticket That Vanished with a Jacket
After a frantic search, she remembered where she had placed it: inside a jacket pocket. The problem? That very jacket was recently donated to Vietnam Veterans of America, a nonprofit that distributes items globally.
“I was stupefied,” she told WTAE. “There are no words for it… How can I get it back?”
Simoneriluto said she had tucked the ticket into her coat so she wouldn’t forget it. Ironically, that decision may cost her a life-changing jackpot. She’s since returned to the store multiple times, hoping for answers, but employees say there’s little they can do.
A Race Against Time
Under Pennsylvania Lottery rules, the winner must present the actual ticket to claim the prize. And the clock is ticking—Simoneriluto has until May 8 to find it.
Without the stub, the money could go unclaimed or potentially revert to the state’s programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians. Meanwhile, Simoneriluto remains hopeful someone, somewhere, might find the ticket and do the right thing.
“What else can I do?” she said. “Cry out loud and hope something happens positive on my end?”
Unbiased Opinion: A Reminder Wrapped in Heartbreak
Simoneriluto’s story is undeniably heartbreaking—but it also underscores an important reality about the lottery: a winning ticket is only as good as your ability to prove it.
While the rules may seem cold in a situation like this, they exist to prevent fraud and protect the integrity of the system. Still, it’s hard not to sympathize with a woman whose dream-come-true moment has turned into a nightmare of second-guessing and regret.
Whether or not the ticket surfaces before the deadline, Simoneriluto’s story is a powerful (and painful) reminder to always treat valuable documents—especially lottery tickets—with extra care.
