Michigan Lottery Player Wins Two $110,000 Fantasy 5 Prizes After Accidentally Buying Duplicate Tickets

A 68-year-old Michigan lottery player discovered he had won two $110,000 Fantasy 5 Double Play prizes after accidentally purchasing duplicate tickets for the same June 15 drawing while vacationing in northern Michigan. Paul Pattwell matched the winning numbers 03-08-10-14-20 on both tickets, which he had purchased at separate stores in Charlevoix and Petoskey.

The Accidental Double Win

Pattwell, a Pinckney resident, explained that his purchase of the duplicate ticket stemmed from a common lottery player's dilemma: uncertainty. While camping in northern Michigan with his wife, he could not recall whether he had already bought his Fantasy 5 ticket for that day. To be safe, he purchased another ticket at Krist Food Mart in Charlevoix. He had actually bought his first ticket at Toski Sands Party Store in Petoskey.

The winning numbers proved identical across both tickets. When Pattwell returned home from vacation, he began systematically reviewing a week's worth of lottery tickets he had accumulated. He immediately recognized the winning numbers from the June 15 drawing and called his wife to share the news of his first $110,000 prize. After hanging up, he continued checking the remaining tickets and discovered the duplicate ticket had also won the same amount.

Plans for the Winnings

Pattwell visited Michigan Lottery headquarters to claim both prizes, totaling $220,000. He has disclosed his intention to purchase a new truck, provide gifts for his grandchildren, and preserve the remainder of his winnings. The incident reflects a pattern common among dedicated lottery players: Pattwell noted that he has played the same set of Fantasy 5 numbers for years and purchases tickets on a daily basis.