D.C. man wins $50K in Maryland Lottery using license plate and phone digits
Brentwood, MD — A Washington, D.C. man walked into Maryland with a hunch and walked out $50,000 richer after a license plate and his phone number inspired the Pick 5 digits that led to a big win.
John Murphy, a retired Metro employee, said the number 43871 caught his eye on a license plate just before he bought his ticket. Noticing that it began with the same digits as his phone number, he decided to play it. That decision paid off when the number hit in the midday Pick 5 drawing on October 17.
Murphy purchased the five-digit combination for multiple draws, covering evening plays from October 13 through midday October 17. The winning ticket was the final draw in his run.
“I was in shock,” Murphy said when he claimed his prize on October 21 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore.
He credits a family member for convincing him to buy the ticket in Maryland instead of his usual choice, the D.C. Lottery. “My sister-in-law told me to play in Maryland,” he said. “I’m glad I listened.”
The winning ticket was sold at AJ Liquors, located at 3801 Bladensburg Road in Brentwood. The retailer will receive a $500 bonus for selling the top-prize winner.
Murphy has not yet decided how he’ll spend his windfall but said he enjoys traveling with his wife, Zina.
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Key Points
- D.C. man wins $50,000 in Maryland Pick 5 after seeing digits on a license plate
- Winning numbers were 43871, played from Oct. 13 through midday Oct. 17
- Ticket purchased at AJ Liquors in Brentwood, which earns $500 bonus