B.C. Lottery still verifying winner of $50M jackpot

Nearly two weeks after a winning B.C. Lottery ticket worth $50 million was finally turned in -- close to a year after it was purchased -- the mystery around who will get the winnings is still far from being solved.

The Lotto Max ticket, which was purchased in Langley, B.C., was turned in 12 days ago, just before the weekend deadline which would have nullified the ticket.

But far from the typical news conference -- with the lottery corporation presenting a beaming winner to the media to describe their plans for the newfound wealth -- the B.C. Lottery Corporation has so far declined to name the winner and is refusing to do interviews on the subject.

"Clearly something has gone sideways here," said Lindsay Meredith, a professor of marketing at the Beedie School of Business, speaking to CTV Vancouver.

He added: "There's a reason why some lotteries require the winner come forward -- because it is the most effective advertising going. The media can put a face to that big check and that's going to sell more tickets for the lottery guys,"

Adding to the mystery, a Shoppers Drug Mart employee named Gayleen Elliott filed a lawsuit last year alleging a co-worker had purchased the winning ticket for a workplace pool and was concealing it.

However, he says he simply forgot to buy tickets for the pool that week.

Now, the lawyer representing Elliott says the lawsuit is still underway and there are no plans to drop the suit now that the ticket has been handed in.

On the contrary, CTV Vancouver's Shannon Patterson reported, the lawyer said he had been in contact with the lottery corporation and the matter is still being investigated.