Belle Man Claims Outstanding $1 Million Mega Millions Prize Win from December 17, 2013 Drawing

Charleston, WV – West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave announced the winner of an outstanding $1 million prize from a Mega Millions® drawing held on December 17, 2013 today during a press conference at Lottery headquarters.
Jeff Carver, a native of Belle, WV, has been keeping the winning ticket in a safety deposit box since the drawing was held last year.  Carver said that he wanted to wait until the time was right to claim his $1 million prize.  “The ticket was posted on our refrigerator for two or three days after the drawing before I finally checked my ticket and realized I had the winner,” he said.  Carver said that his secret has been kept quiet until today, with only two family members having knowledge of the big win.

Carver, who is married to West Virginia Tourism Commissioner Betty Carver, said that he will continue his 38-year career at a local company in Kanawha County.  However, according to a recent announcement from the Governor’s Office, Betty Carver will soon be retiring after nearly 40 years of public service to the Mountain State.  Carver and his wife have two adult children.

Carver said that he plans to pay off debt and make some investments with his winnings.  “I plan to pay off my children’s student loan debt,” he said. 
With this latest prize claim, there have now been 105 people to win or share a prize of $1 million or more in West Virginia Lottery history.

Both of the popular Multi-State Lottery jackpot games – Powerball® and Mega Millions® – have resulted in a winning streak for players in West Virginia this year with Carver’s big win being the seventh prize claim of a $1 million or more in 2014.
Musgrave said that the Lottery is still awaiting a claim for another $1 million unclaimed prize from the Powerball® drawing held on February 12, 2014.  The winning ticket was sold in Wheeling, WV.