A retired southern Illinois couple has claimed the third and final share of last month's record $656 million Mega Millions jackpot.
Illinois lottery officials introduced Merle and Patricia Butler at a ceremony in their hometown of Red Bud Wednesday morning, where they bought the winning ticket for the March 30th drawing. The retired analysts chose to accept the prize as a lump-sum payment of $158 million after taxes. Sixty-five-year-old Merle Butler says he and his wife have been meeting with financial advisors and lawyers since the drawing. He says they're working on an investment strategy and could "possibly'' take a vacation with their new cash. But the Butlers say they don't plan to move out of Red Bud. He says Red Bud is "a nice, comfortable, family-oriented community'' that they've called home for a long time.
They are the only one of the three winners whose names have been made public. Holders of the other tickets in Kansas and Maryland anonymously claimed their prizes. The Butlers bought a $3 quick-pick ticket at the Motomart convenience store in Red Bud.
