Chowan man wins $130K jackpot with $1 Cash 5 ticket

EDENTON — A Chowan County man turned a $1 Cash 5 ticket into a $130,000 jackpot win in the North Carolina Education Lottery Thursday night.

Dean Heffernan of Edenton told lottery officials Friday said he had long dreamed of winning a big lottery prize. Thursday night, that dream became a reality when the $1 Quick Pick ticket Heffernan bought at the Speedway on Virginia Road turned out to be a prize winner.

“I’ve always dreamed about winning,” Heffernan said. “This is a dream come true.”

Heffernan said he checked his ticket early Friday morning and saw that his numbers matched those drawn. The odds of that happening were pretty steep. According to the lottery, the odds of matching numbers on all five white balls are 1 in 962,598.

“My heart about beat out of my chest,” Heffernan said.

Heffernan said he loves playing all lottery games but he's never won a prize like Thursday's $130,000 jackpot.

“I’m just tickled to death right now,” he said. “Winning this is just awesome."

Heffernan claimed his prize at lottery headquarters Friday and, after required federal and state tax withholdings, took home $92,951.

He told lottery officials he plans to use his winnings to set up a trust fund for his son.