In Staten Island, a dream of making it big with just a dollar was crushed.
A woman from Annadale has recently revealed to the Advance that she was the winner of a $12 million Lotto jackpot that remained unclaimed on Staten Island back in 1992.
Janet Valenti, 77, clarified that the property in question is not entirely unclaimed.
Valenti described the situation as a comical series of mistakes and mishaps that ultimately resulted in the item being thrown away. He remarked that the experience was a bit of a debacle and didn’t quite go as planned.
On July 17, 1991, the old J.N.J. Delicatessen in Graniteville sold a Lotto ticket worth $1. It’s amazing how a small piece of paper can hold such huge potential for changing someone’s life forever.
The ticket that brought luck to its owner had the winning combination of numbers 2, 3, 6, 43, 46, and 52. This ticket ended up winning the jackpot worth an impressive $12 million.
However, the award was never given out.
According to Valenti, the ticket that won the lottery was placed on an end table along with other lottery tickets near her couch at home. She initially assumed that these tickets were from a previous drawing and had already been checked for any winning numbers.
As Valenti and her family were preparing for a weekend trip upstate to visit friends, she absentmindedly discarded the tickets along with some other trash. Without realizing it, the garbage bag containing the tickets was then placed in the outdoor trash can.
Valenti revealed that a friend informed her about the lucky winner of the $12 million Lotto prize from Staten Island upon her arrival.
According to Valenti, she came across the winning numbers in the newspaper, and she immediately knew they were hers. She had been playing the same set of numbers for a long time, and each digit held a special meaning for her.
As per Valenti’s recollection, she had mentioned to her friend that “those were her numbers.”
However, a single issue presented itself.
Valenti shared that her neighbor, who had never assisted her in taking out the garbage during the time she lived there, unexpectedly did so one day.
The bag which held the winning ticket was picked up by the Sanitation Department.
Valenti expressed that going to the dump at that specific time was not a noteworthy event and it marked the end of the matter.
According to Valenti, she reached out to lawyers for help regarding the prize, but unfortunately, they informed her that without the winning ticket in her possession, there was no way to claim it.
According to Valenti, there are other significant numbers on her Lotto card that she plays regularly and are very personal to her. However, she stated that they wouldn’t try to retrieve the tape from the deli lottery machine as it would reveal those numbers as well.
“She expressed her frustration, saying that her efforts were futile. “It didn’t make a difference,” she stated, “there was nothing I could do.”
In accordance with the regulations of the state lottery, the ticket that won the grand prize had a validity period of one year after its purchase, which ended on July 17, 1992. Sadly, no one came forth to claim the $12 million prize, and it was consequently returned to the state lottery fund. It was a significant event as it marked the biggest unclaimed prize in the history of the state lottery at that time.
Valenti, a retired worker from the city Department of Education, expressed her distress over her past experiences, saying, “I was a wreck. I was sick for a long time over it.”
According to Valenti, the stories she read about the “lottery curses” were the only thing that kept her from going crazy over the millions she had lost. These tales revolved around winners or their loved ones experiencing tragedies or other misfortunes after hitting the big jackpot.
At the time, Valenti was a single mother raising two teenagers, Kevin and Jennifer, after her husband Bruno passed away in 1984.
Valenti reflected on the fortunate turn of events that prevented him from winning the lottery. “Given that kind of money, things can go bad,” he stated. “That was a saving grace. Who knows what would have happened if I’d had that money? You read these stories, a lot of people win Lotto, they drop dead. Maybe it was [Bruno] looking out for us to not have that kind of money.” Valenti expressed gratitude for the unexpected outcome and acknowledged the potential dangers of sudden wealth.
With a hint of amusement, Valenti remarked, “I wouldn’t have minded having it now.”
According to Valenti, her daughter shared the recent Advance article about the $12 million ticket mystery, and it had a profound impact on her. Valenti admitted that it felt like a punch in the stomach, and she couldn’t help but wonder if her past was coming back to haunt her.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the woman remained resilient. With a shrug of her shoulders, she simply uttered the phrase, “Such is life. What are you going to do?” Her words conveyed a sense of acceptance and a determination to persevere through whatever difficulties came her way. It was a reminder to stay positive and keep moving forward, even when things get tough.
Valenti continues to play the lottery to this day.
According to her, the most she ever receives is a free play or a few dollars, and that’s all.
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