ESSEXVILLE, Mich. — A Michigan man who won a $45,000 lottery jackpot two weeks ago died with the winning ticket in his wallet, authorities said.
Gregory Allen Jarvis, 57, of Caseville, drowned along a private beach near Saginaw Bay, WJRT reported. Caseville Police Chief Kyle Romzek said Jarvis’ body was found on a private beach by a property owner just north of Caseville County Park around 9:30 a.m. EDT Friday, the Huron Daily Tribune reported.
An autopsy confirmed that Jarvis drowned, but police were concerned when they found the ticket from the Club Keno add-on game “The Jack,” in his pocket, according to WJRT.
The body of Gregory Allen Jarvis was found washed ashore a private beach last Friday morning. https://t.co/aEt3r5pmxs
— Huron Daily Tribune (@michigans_thumb) September 30, 2021
Romzek estimated Jarvis had been in the water approximately four or five days, the Daily Tribune reported. Jarvis was a seasonal resident of Caseville and lived aboard his boat. Romzek said he believes Jarvis was tying up his boat when he accidentally hit his head on the boat or on a nearby seawall, causing him to lose consciousness and fall into the water, the newspaper reported.
Jarvis was at Duffy’s Blue Water Inn in Caseville on Sept. 13 when he bought the winning ticket, according to WJRT. The man attempted to cash the winning ticket but did not have a Social Security card that was in good shape, the television station reported. He was waiting for a replacement card when he drowned, WJRT reported.
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The Michigan Lottery Commission confirmed that winners of prizes of more than $600 have to provide photo identification and an actual Social Security card to collect their winnings, the television station reported.
SO SAD -- Caseville man drowns with winning jackpot ticket in his pocket. https://t.co/y9PFHQLryK
— ABC12WJRT (@ABC12WJRT) September 28, 2021
Jarvis was a well-liked person in the community, according to Blue Water Inn owner Dawn Talaski.
“Very nice guy, he was here every day,” Talaski told WJRT.
Jarvis was last seen in the bar on Sept. 19 buying drinks for friends, according to The Associated Press.
“He was planning to take that money and go see his sister and his dad in North Carolina,” Talaski told WJRT.
The winning ticket is now in the possession of Jarvis’ relatives, the television station reported.
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