Jacksonville parents win $1 million ticket from scratch

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – A Jacksonville couple won $1 million from a scratch-off ticket purchased in Jacksonville Beach, the Florida Lottery announced Tuesday.

John Stanhill, 46, purchased the winning ticket at the Duval Exxon Hotel at 1403 Third Street North. He and his new family decided to take the winnings in a one-time lump sum payment of $640,000.

Stanhill said the couple’s victory came just three weeks before their due date.

“It just couldn’t have come at a better time!” he said.

The Florida Lottery recently caught up with a couple who have been very busy with a newborn.

“We won the lottery, and then we won the lottery again with our beautiful, healthy baby boy!” said the child’s mother, Victoria Oakley. “All in three weeks!”

The lottery said Stanhill won a scratch-off prize worth 50,500X THE CASH.

“Winning the lottery was a huge relief for us. By dispelling our financial worries, we could fully concentrate on being new parents,” the couple said. “We were able to start a college fund for our child and plan to pay off our student loans. We are over the moon with everything that has happened!”