Former lottery winner dead from apparent drug overdose
Amanda Clayton
In 2011, 25-year-old Amanda Clayton won a million dollar jackpot in the Michigan State lottery and walked away with a one-time, lump payment of more than $730,000.
Twelve months later, Clayton was found dead of an apparent drug overdose.
Oddly enough, Clayton never disclosed her winnings to Michigan‘s Department of Human Services and continued to collect welfare benefits. This past June, she pleaded no contest to fraud charges, received nine months of probation and paid back roughly $5000 of the benefits she stole.
In a recent statement, Clayton’s attorney indicated that she likely wasn’t mature enough to handle such large winnings. I wonder what gave it away? Could it have been the fact that she spent some of her cash on the drugs that eventually killed her?
Remind me not to obtain any of this lawyer‘s services in the future. I’m fairly certain that I could state the obvious without an attorney’s help.
Posted on October 1, 2012, in Perspectives and tagged Clayton, commentary, crime, current-events, Drug overdose, Michigan, news, perspectives, Welfare. Bookmark the permalink. 10 Comments.
Such a sad story.
Definitely…
What a terrible thing.If I won a million dollars I sure wouldn’t spend it on drugs,poor girl.With a win like that we’d be set for life.A million isn’t a great fortune these days but with proper management it would do.
It certainly would. And I hate to see things like this happen to people who could have been on the up and up…
Terrible. Horrible things tend to happen to lottery winners. Very sad.
You’re right, LordByrum. I even think there’s a show called “How the lottery ruined my life” or something. Of course, I’m willing to try it for myself anytime…
Actually,there have been so many winners died of suicide,accident,and over doses it has to make you wonder.It’s starting to look very suspicious to me.I’m thinking they weren’t accidents or suicide,so who is doing it?
I’m not sure it’s a conspiracy, doglady, but it is odd how so many lottery winners end up experiencing some kind of tragedy shortly after they hit the jackpot…
Who would have the most to gain from their deaths? Aren’t a lot of the really big wins ( in the millions ) paid out over a period of time? Cops always say ” follow the money “.
You have a point…