Retiree to Split $15.7-Million Lotto Jackpot

A retired auto parts dealer and mechanic from Covina won half of Saturday’s $15.7-million Lotto jackpot.

Roy Battersby, 77, who closed both Battersby Auto Parts and his engine rebuilding business last year, shares the prize with two Van Nuys women.

Battersby, who has lived in Covina since 1924, said he chose the winning numbers at random. “It was eeny-meeny-miney-mo,” he said Wednesday. “There was no system to it.”

He said that he realized he had won after watching the number-drawing on Saturday but that he was not excited. “I guess it’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” he said. “Maybe not even that.”

Battersby is a bachelor whose only immediate family is a sister. He said he has no plans yet for spending the money.

“I guess I’ll do some traveling,” he said. “But I’ll be around here for a while. I’ve got a lot of machinery and tools and things to sell in the shop. I can’t go away and leave them.”

His $7.86 million in winnings will be paid in 20 annual payments of $314,400 after taxes.

Battersby shares the prize with Mary Greco and Diana Thomas, who will each receive annual payments of $157,200 after taxes for the next 20 years, Lotto spokeswoman Jana Matal said.

As of January, the lottery has been issuing separate payments to individuals who share winning tickets.

Matal said the women declined to reveal their occupations or their ages, except to say that they are both middle-aged.

Matal said that the women felt numb when they learned they had won and that they have not yet decided what to do with their winnings.