Maryland dad rescues powerball ticket from washer, wins $50k — Man holding dollar bills roll, corruption payment, dirty money, financial fraud

DISTRICT HEIGHTS, MD — A quick-thinking father from District Heights turned a near-laundry disaster into a $50,000 Powerball prize after retrieving his winning ticket moments before it would have been ruined.

Eric Cotton, a Prince George’s County father of two, realized his girlfriend had begun loading the washing machine with a pair of pants that still held four Powerball tickets in the pockets. Acting fast, he retrieved the tickets just in time, narrowly saving them from being soaked.

After pulling the tickets from the pocket, Cotton scanned them using the Maryland Lottery app. The first three yielded no results, but the fourth ticket revealed he had won $50,000 by matching four of the five white balls and the Powerball from the November 6 drawing.

The regular lottery player purchased the lucky quick-pick ticket at Kaywood Liquors in Mount Rainier. Cotton says he plans to save most of the winnings to buy a house for his family, with some of the funds set aside for his daughter’s birthday celebration.

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Chris Quigley is a Staff Writer and Community News Correspondent for Shore News Network, where she covers local government, public safety, community affairs, politics, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey. Her reporting focuses on delivering timely, accurate, and relevant news that helps readers stay informed about the communities in which they live and work.

As a member of the Shore News Network editorial team, Quigley works closely with public officials, community leaders, first responders, and local organizations to provide factual coverage of breaking news, municipal government, public policy, and events affecting New Jersey residents. Her work highlights both major developments and the local stories that shape communities across the state.

Quigley is committed to responsible journalism, emphasizing accuracy, source verification, and transparency in every story she reports. She strives to present information in a clear and accessible manner, helping readers better understand the issues, decisions, and events that impact their daily lives.

Through her work at Shore News Network, Chris Quigley contributes to the organization's mission of providing trusted local news coverage, accountability reporting, and community-focused journalism throughout New Jersey.

Chris Quigley is a graduate of Stockton State University and began her career at IN Jersey, the online news and media branch of the Asbury Park Press. She also worked at Monmouth Internet, the Ocean Signal Newspaper, and JTOWN Magazine during her career in both content management and operations.

Degrees: Business B.A. - Stockton University

Experience and interests: Criminal Justice, Business, Animal Care, Entertainment, Lottery News, Local News