Summary
- A man entrusted his then-girlfriend to claim a CA$5 million jackpot.
- The woman subsequently cut off all communication with the winner and left with her new partner.
- Each side has provided conflicting accounts of the actual events.
A man has filed a lawsuit to recover his CA$5 million lottery winnings, which he alleges were misappropriated by Krystal McKay, who claimed the prize. He had allowed his ex-partner to collect the jackpot on his behalf, based on the advice of lottery officials in Manitoba, Canada.
Man partner ghosts him after claiming CA$5m jackpot
The narrative includes several intriguing twists that have captured media attention. Last Friday, May 23, Lawrence Campbell from Winnipeg filed a complaint seeking a refund from McKay and also named the Western Canada Lottery Corporation and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries as defendants. Campbell claims he followed poor advice from these entities when he transferred his winning ticket to his former partner. After winning on January 20, 2024, Campbell couldn't claim the prize because he lacked a government-issued ID and a bank account. Due to this, and based on advice from the WCLC, Campbell allowed his girlfriend to claim the winnings. The couple even posed for photos with the customary check at an official ceremony, and on January 30, 2024, the lottery issued a statement claiming Campbell had gifted the ticket to McKay for her birthday. However, Campbell's lawsuit refutes this, asserting that the ticket was his and he only agreed to let her claim the prize due to his lack of the necessary paperwork. Soon after McKay claimed the prize, she cut off contact with Campbell, who eventually found her with another man, as detailed in the lawsuit. It provides a vivid account of McKay reportedly saying she wanted to end things with Campbell to be with that new guy. A representative for Campbell stated: Mr. Campbell felt betrayed as he gradually realized his trust in all three defendants had been misplaced and violated.
Incredulous story of love and money
Chad Panting, the representative for Campbell, admitted that some aspects of the story seemed unbelievable, but insisted they were true. The lawsuit claims that Campbell is the sole owner. According to the complaint, Campbell eventually agreed to transfer the rights to claim the prize to McKay, a trusted and loving partner, based on the lottery's recommendation. McKay reportedly obtained a restraining order against Campbell, while Campbell's complaint seeks to prevent McKay from spending any of the lottery winnings.
