Unclaimed $1.5B jackpot mystery: Winner died? Ticket lost?

A customer shows his Mega Millions lottery ticket at a local grocery store, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa. Lottery players will have a chance at winning an estimated $1.6 billion jackpot in Tuesday night’s Mega Millions drawing. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

by: Associated Press

Posted: Feb 24, 2019 / 10:52 PM EST

Updated: Feb 24, 2019 / 10:52 PM EST

The winner of last October’s $1.5 billion Mega Millions drawing in South Carolina remains a mystery.

With less than two months to go, the winning ticket has not been claimed.

People in Simpsonville where it was sold have plenty of theories. Maybe the winner was so overwhelmed, he or she died on the spot. Maybe the winner is on the run from police and fears a background check. Or maybe the ticket accidentally ended up in the trash.

If the ticket isn’t claimed by April 19 there will be other losers. The owner of the store that sold the ticket loses a $50,000 prize. Every taxpayer in South Carolina may lose a $50 rebate possibly tied to the $61 million the winner would pay in income taxes on the jackpot.