L.A. County Couple Thrilled to be a Multi-‘Thousandaire’

Drawing Date: 2/14/2014

February 21, 2014 - Eumeka Saxton wasn’t sure she was going to have the energy to enjoy the Valentine’s Day concert she and her husband were headed to at Nokia Theatre. “I think I was tired, so I told my husband to stop because I needed to get an iced coffee,” Saxton remembered.

Like most of our winners, it turned out to be one of the best – if not the best decision they’ve ever made in their lives. “After we stopped, I told him, ‘dang, the lottery is so much right now (the Mega Millions jackpot was $139 million).’ He had three one dollar bills…” And the rest is history. Saxton is suddenly more than half a million dollars richer – $505,010 richer to be exact.

“I usually only grab them (lottery tickets) here and there. But back in December, I had a dream that I won $69 million on the lottery. From there I started buying,” Saxton explained. The 29-year-old said the day following the concert, she and her mother went back to the store where she bought her winning ticket to pick up something else. “I remember saying, ‘dang, nobody’s still won (the jackpot)?!’ And the girl behind the counter said someone from Baldwin Park did win something!”

Saxton confessed she normally doesn’t check her lottery tickets until days later – and that they’re usually “crumbled up” somewhere. Her husband Rondal took a look at the ticket and asked how many numbers they needed to win. “I told him five numbers and he was like ‘we got it!’ I said, ‘yea right, shut up!’ But he was like, ‘it’s for real, I’m not playing with you!’ And I just started screaming!” Saxton said with a laugh.

Eumeka and Rondal made their Valentine’s Day 2014 purchase at the Stop and Save located at 12946 N. Bess Avenue in Baldwin Park (Los Angeles). Their winning ticket correctly matched the numbers 20-28-35-71 and 72, missing only the Mega number 7. “I still think I’m in a dream and I don’t even want to be woken up,” Rondal Saxton laughed.

The couple says they plan on using the money to help purchase their first home. Eumeka Saxton, who works in collections, says she’s ready to do some more collecting – of a different kind! “So many people look for a way out of debt, and possibly become millionaires for sure…” Her huband Rondal interrupted, “Some people want to be a millionaire. But we’re just happy being a ‘thousandaire!’” as they burst into laughter. A multi-multi-‘thousandaire’ to be sure! Half a million dollars, all thanks in part to a dream and a coffee run on a Valentine’s Day neither will ever forget.