Lotto winner has $30-million in new friends and old

You knew there had to be a reason for the wait, besides circumspection. Now, according to this it might be a couple ex's and some children. First snip:

Raymond Sobeski kept his $30 million secret for almost a year until he appeared at a Lotto Super 7 news conference last Thursday to claim Canada's largest single lottery jackpot. He also said he was single.
Since then, reporters have been banging on the door of the family farm in the rural community of Harley and taking pictures of the house. Locals are stopped on the street and asked what they think, and false stories have appeared saying he's behind on child support for his two children, 12 and 13, Sobeski said.

And more . . .

Ionson met Sobeski Dec. 10, 1994, and they eloped exactly four years later, she said. She said she is finding it hard to reconcile her feelings with Sobeski's decision to sit on a lottery ticket while she was struggling.

"I believe he loves me, but I'm confused why he'd let me suffer for an entire year," she said. "I can't believe he did it. It's been the worst year of my life."

She said Sobeski gave her separation papers more than a year ago and she received, but didn't sign, divorce papers in January.

She also said their relationship has continued.

Of course, a story's just a story. But, with a $30-million budget this daytime drama's sure to make a spash.

Posted by Grayson at April 5, 2004 07:38 AM