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Jefferson City Woman Goes from $100 to $100,000

Jefferson City resident Ashley Witherbee went from $100 to $100,000 on July 8 after uncovering a top prize on a Missouri Lottery "$100,000 Riches" Scratchers ticket.  Witherbee, 21, and her boyfriend, Darren Detwiler, were on their way to dinner when they stopped at Phillips MPC, 301 Ellis Blvd., in Jefferson City.

"I had tickets on me, so I used the money on those," she recalled. 

Witherbee, who won a $100 prize on the same game in June, realized she was holding another winning ticket later that evening.

"First thing she did was hit my leg and say, ’Babe!’" Detwiler began.  "I thought she just won another $100.  Then, I look at the ticket, and it says $20,000.  She keeps scratching and more and more $20,000 (prizes) appear.  She gets to $60,000, and I said, ’You just won the grand-prize!’"

When asked to describe the moment she uncovered the top prize, she added, "I was in shock." 

"It was a good thing I was sitting down, or I probably would’ve fallen over!" 

Detwiler said they both sat and stared at the ticket wondering if they were dreaming.

"I wanted to believe it was real, but I was just waiting for today to find out for sure," Detwiler said, referring to claiming the ticket at Jefferson City headquarters the following day.

As for the rest of their evening on July 8, they returned to the store to get a claim form before celebrating with friends at Southern Comfort in Jefferson City.

"We bought a round for the bar, and relaxed for a bit," Detwiler shared.             

Witherbee said she hasn’t decided what to do with the prize money.  One thing is certain; the couple is "out of debt and way ahead," according to Detwiler. 

"$100,000 Riches," a $5 game with a top prize of $100,000, officially began on June 12.  Non-winning "$100,000 Riches" Scratchers tickets can be entered into the "Ticket to Ride" promotion offering players the opportunity to win new vehicles, free gasoline and more!