Winner claims Mega Millions pot

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ANNAPOLIS -- A 54-year-old Essex woman who worked four part-time jobs as she struggled to pay for a $62,000 house stepped forward yesterday as the winner of the $112 million Mega Millions lottery.

Bernadette "Bernie" Gietka, a lifelong Maryland resident, now says she isn't sure she will stay in the "little house" that used to be her dream home. She's giving up at least three of her part-time jobs -- housesitting, pet sitting and elder care -- to turn her attention to her dream of being a movie producer.

"The first thing will be to wait for a call from Disney," said Miss Gietka, who has written a screenplay called "Clay's Quest," a futuristic sequel to "The Wizard of Oz."

The payout was the second-largest to a single-ticket holder in U.S. lottery history.

Miss Gietka kept secret her new fortune since the June 20 drawing. She tucked the winning ticket in her address book and carried it with her everywhere as she finished working her scheduled shifts as a substitute letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

"It is a strange thing, going back to work," she said. "You want to tell them but you want to keep it quiet."

The 12 days that passed without a winner claiming the jackpot had fueled speculation and rumors about who held the ticket purchased at Geresbeck's Bi-Rite in Middle River. Some said a man embroiled in a bitter divorce was waiting for the divorce to finalize before claiming the windfall. Others speculated that the winning ticket had been mistakenly discarded.

That talk ended yesterday when Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. introduced Miss Gietka at a State House news conference. Accompanied by Maryland State Lottery Director Buddy Roogow, the Republican governor handed Miss Gietka a jumbo-size ceremonial check for $112 million.

"This is a fun day and it is a fun part of my job," said Mr. Ehrlich. "But as fun as it is for me, it is a better day for Bernadette Gietka."