Iowa Hot Lotto Mystery Heats Up, Was ‘Real Winner’ Killed For Big Jackpot?

The Iowa lotto mystery, intriguing Iowans and eventually those out of state for months due to some genuinely bizarre and red-flag raising circumstances, has taken a new and troubling twist — investigators revealed the true motive behind their relentless pursuit of the full story.

When The Inquisitr first reported on the Iowa lotto mystery, involving Iowa’s “Hot Lotto” scratch off game and a massive jackpot totaling nearly $15 million, we noted that investigators were somewhat vague in their disclosures regarding the enduring puzzle.

After months of searching, law enforcement is no closer to learning what happened before the Iowa lotto mystery became a notably intriguing case — but they did elucidate why they’ve been trying so hard to resolve it.

Lottery winners often wish to remain as anonymous as possible for obvious reasons — and in the past, jackpots have been claimed and their owners subsequently killed for their riches. Iowa lottery officials admit that the Iowa lotto mystery has caused them to wonder if some has been harmed, blackmailed or even killed for the Hot Lotto jackpot.

Officials have now voiced their true concerns over the fate of the mystery Iowa lotto winner, and Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer explains:

“The possibilities of what could have occurred here really are endless … It could have been as serious as someone being killed, or someone being blackmailed. It’s all within the realm of possibility. The whole situation is just strange … Our security ran all the checks. There was no question that it was actually the winning ticket, but they couldn’t answer some very simple security questions.”

New York attorney Crawford Shaw presented the Iowa lotto ticket for redemption, and Neubauer says his answers did not fit the standard profile for winners:

“In most instances, the people who come in to claim the prize answer the questions off the top of their heads in just a few minutes, so this was unusual the whole way through.”

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s Jessica Lown added:

“The ticket could have been stolen or somebody might have been blackmailed … The important thing is that we want to sure there is nobody in physical jeopardy or that there is no financial crime going on.”

Investigators admit they seem no closer to resolving the Iowa lotto mystery.