$12.8 Million Arizona Lottery Jackpot Dispute Expands as Two More Potential Claimants Emerge
The legal dispute over an unclaimed $12.8 million Arizona Lottery "The Pick" jackpot has taken another turn after court filings identified two additional individuals who may have a legal claim to the winning ticket.
The case stems from a jackpot-winning ticket purchased at a Circle K convenience store in Arizona. Although the ticket matched the winning numbers, it was never officially claimed before questions arose regarding its rightful ownership.
Earlier this year, a Maricopa County judge approved an extension to the ticket's 180-day claim deadline, allowing more time for the court to determine who is legally entitled to the prize. At the time, the court noted that key facts surrounding the purchase and possession of the ticket had yet to be established.
Customer Who Initiated the Purchase Identified
According to newly released court documents, the customer who initiated the lottery purchase has been identified as Soonchun Kim.
Investigators were reportedly able to identify Kim after the court ordered Bank of America to provide account information linked to the debit card used during the transaction. While Kim has been identified as the customer who initiated the purchase, she has not indicated whether she intends to pursue a claim to the jackpot.
Court filings indicate that Kim originally intended to purchase $60 worth of lottery tickets, despite approximately $85 worth of tickets being printed by the lottery terminal. She completed the purchase of only part of the printed tickets before leaving the store.
The filings also reveal that several tickets may have fallen behind the lottery printer, raising questions about whether Kim was aware that all of the tickets had been printed.
Another unresolved issue is whether the eventual jackpot-winning ticket contained the same number selections Kim had requested to be reprinted from previous plays.
Circle K Employees Also Involved
The latest court documents also identify Marline Ybarra, a Circle K employee, as another individual connected to the disputed ticket.
According to court records, after customer transactions had concluded, store manager Robert Gawlitza purchased the remaining unclaimed lottery tickets after his work shift ended. One of those tickets turned out to be the $12.8 million jackpot winner.
Court filings further state that Ybarra signed the back of the winning ticket after Gawlitza purchased it. However, it remains unclear whether the two had any agreement regarding ownership or sharing of potential winnings.
Previous reports indicated that Ybarra and Gawlitza may have shared legal representation, although current court records show Ybarra representing herself.
Court to Determine the Rightful Winner
With all known potential claimants now identified and formally included in the case, the lawsuit is expected to move into its next phase. Read more lottery news and analysis at: result hongkong pools
The court must now determine whether the rightful owner of the jackpot is the customer who initiated the original lottery transaction, the Circle K employees who later purchased and possessed the ticket, or another party based on Arizona lottery laws and the evidence presented.
Until the court reaches a final decision, the $12.8 million Arizona Lottery jackpot will remain unclaimed, making it one of the most closely watched lottery ownership disputes in recent years.