**BREAKING: Local Woman’s Dad Dies, Wins Big in Bizarre Lottery Twist**
In a shocking turn of events, a Maryland woman has won a whopping $50,000 in the state lottery – but not because she bought a ticket or played the odds. No, the reason for her windfall is far more…morbid.
According to sources close to the family, 32-year-old Sarah Johnson of Baltimore learned that her beloved father, Harold, had passed away on February 27th. But little did she know, his demise would bring her a small fortune.
As it turns out, Harold’s death date – 2/27/2023 – matched the exact numbers drawn in the Maryland Lottery’s “Pick 4” game that same day. And, in a bizarre twist of fate, Sarah had purchased a ticket with those very same numbers, just for kicks.
“I was just messing around, picking random numbers,” said Sarah, still in shock. “I didn’t think anything of it until my cousin called me and said, ‘Hey, did you see the lottery numbers?’ And I’m like, ‘No, why?’ And she’s like, ‘Because they’re the same as your dad’s death date!’ I was like, ‘What?!'”
Sarah’s winning ticket earned her a cool $50,000, which she plans to use to…well, not exactly to celebrate her dad’s passing, but to honor his memory in a rather unconventional way.
“I’m going to use the money to throw the most epic party my dad would have loved,” said Sarah, fighting back tears. “Complete with his favorite foods, drinks, and a special ‘RIP’ cake. He’s going to be so proud of me…or at least, I hope so.”
When asked if she planned to share the winnings with her family, Sarah quipped, “Uh, no. I’m keeping it all. After all, my dad always said, ‘You can’t take it with you’…but I’m going to try.”
The Maryland Lottery has confirmed that Sarah’s win is one of the most unusual in their history. “We’ve had winners who’ve matched numbers based on their birthdays, anniversaries, or even sports jerseys,” said a spokesperson. “But never, ever, have we had a winner whose numbers were inspired by a, ahem, ‘life event’ like this.”
As for Sarah, she’s just grateful for the unexpected windfall – and the strange, strange coincidence that brought it her way. “I guess you could say my dad’s passing was a real ‘game-changer’!” she laughed, wiping away tears.
