South Euclid Woman Claims $162 Million Jackpot

CLEVELAND - The Mega Millions jackpot winner has come forward today to claim the $162 million Mega Millions jackpot prize from Dec. 30, says Director Dennis G. Kennedy. It is the first Mega Millions jackpot hit here in Ohio.

Rebecca Jemison of South Euclid says that she has played what's become the winning numbers "every now and then" for the past several years on a bet card. She played the same combination for the Dec. 26 drawing as well.

She discovered she won after picking up the local newspaper outside her doorstep on New Year's Eve.

"I looked at the numbers several times," she said, not believing exactly what had happened. After she realized that she had the winning numbers, she said she went straight to her mom's house to share the good news first. She came home soon after to tell her husband Sam.

"A million and one things go through your mind after you've won," she said. She said that she and her husband will take some time to decide what they will do with their windfall. Their only definite plans are to relocate.

Married and a mother of one, Jemison is an employee of Hillcrest Hospital.

Jemison matched all five numbers plus the Mega Ball to win. The winning numbers were: 12-18-21-32-46 +49. She chose the cash option, worth an estimated $94,020,545.10 before taxes. After withholdings, she will receive a lump sum payment estimated at $67,224,689.76.

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