Eddie Tipton
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Someone called in to say that his friend, who was a religious hot lotto player, had just died in a car accident. He asked whether he should go to the junkyard to look through the wrecked car. But each time someone called in, the lottery officials would ask for the 15-digit serial number on the back of the ticket. And each time, those numbers didn't match the winning ticket.
Someone called in to say that his friend, who was a religious hot lotto player, had just died in a car accident. He asked whether he should go to the junkyard to look through the wrecked car. But each time someone called in, the lottery officials would ask for the 15-digit serial number on the back of the ticket. And each time, those numbers didn't match the winning ticket.
By early November, almost 11 months had passed with no winner. The ticket was only valid through the end of December. Mary Neubauer, who works for Iowa's lottery, said, I was convinced it would never be claimed. And then she answered a call that came into the lottery office. It was from a man named Philip Johnston, and he had the correct 15-digit serial number.
By early November, almost 11 months had passed with no winner. The ticket was only valid through the end of December. Mary Neubauer, who works for Iowa's lottery, said, I was convinced it would never be claimed. And then she answered a call that came into the lottery office. It was from a man named Philip Johnston, and he had the correct 15-digit serial number.
About a month later, the man called a second time. This time he told Mary that he had, quote, fibbed the first time. He said he was actually a lawyer calling to help his client claim the ticket, but he couldn't disclose the name of his client. He proposed various ways his client could receive the money, but Mary told him that according to Iowa lottery rules, a winner has to identify themselves.
About a month later, the man called a second time. This time he told Mary that he had, quote, fibbed the first time. He said he was actually a lawyer calling to help his client claim the ticket, but he couldn't disclose the name of his client. He proposed various ways his client could receive the money, but Mary told him that according to Iowa lottery rules, a winner has to identify themselves.
Philip Johnston stopped calling after that. And then on the day the ticket was set to expire, about two hours before the end of the claim period, two attorneys showed up in person at the Iowa Lottery office with the actual winning ticket in hand. They said the ticket belonged to their client, a man in New York named Crawford Shaw.
Philip Johnston stopped calling after that. And then on the day the ticket was set to expire, about two hours before the end of the claim period, two attorneys showed up in person at the Iowa Lottery office with the actual winning ticket in hand. They said the ticket belonged to their client, a man in New York named Crawford Shaw.
Crawford Shaw requested that the money be paid to Hexham Investments, a trust in Belize.
Crawford Shaw requested that the money be paid to Hexham Investments, a trust in Belize.
We'll be right back. Support for Criminal comes from Apple Podcasts. Each month, Apple Podcasts highlights one series worth your attention, and they call these series essentials. This month, they recommend Wondery's Ghost Story, a seven-part series that follows journalist Tristan Redman as he tries to get to the bottom of a ghostly presence in his childhood home.
We'll be right back. Support for Criminal comes from Apple Podcasts. Each month, Apple Podcasts highlights one series worth your attention, and they call these series essentials. This month, they recommend Wondery's Ghost Story, a seven-part series that follows journalist Tristan Redman as he tries to get to the bottom of a ghostly presence in his childhood home.
His investigation takes him on a journey involving homicide detectives, ghost hunters, and even psychic mediums, and leads him to a dark secret about his own family. Check out Ghost Story, a series essential pick, completely ad-free on Apple Podcasts.
His investigation takes him on a journey involving homicide detectives, ghost hunters, and even psychic mediums, and leads him to a dark secret about his own family. Check out Ghost Story, a series essential pick, completely ad-free on Apple Podcasts.
The mystery of the unclaimed $16.5 million hot lotto ticket remained unsolved for more than two years. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation had looked into it. The Attorney General's Office had looked into it. But no one had made much progress. And then in 2014, Rob Sand, who was working as the Assistant Attorney General in Iowa, was handed the case file. Happy birthday, his boss said.