$3,200 lottery win allegedly ends in deadly parking lot dispute

A $3,200 lottery win would normally be a reason to celebrate. However, prosecutors say a dispute over the prize money for the Oregon Lottery ticket eventually led to a deadly confrontation in a Portland parking lot. Newly released court documents give more details about the November 2025 death of 75-year-old James S. Miller and the event prosecutors allege led up to it.

Mary Ann McKinzy, 55, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Bakersfield, California, on August 5. She was then extradited to Portland on September 18. McKinzy likely faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and criminally negligent homicide in connection with Miller’s death.

Lottery win allegedly leads to dispute

According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Oregonian, the fight began after Miller won $3,200 on a lottery ticket.

Prosecutors state Miller gave McKinzy, his girlfriend, $1,700 of the winnings. However, McKinzy later allegedly took another $800 from him without his permission. Miller reportedly told an acquaintance that he planned to confront McKinzy and recover the money.

On November 28, 2025, a friend drove Miller to McKinzy’s apartment at the Candalaria Plaza Apartments in Portland. Court records state they found McKinzy sitting inside her vehicle in the parking lot.

Miller then allegedly tapped on the driver’s side window and told McKinzy to open the door. According to his friend, Miller threatened to break the window if McKinzy refused to open the door. From there, the confrontation escalated quickly.

Parking lot confrontation turns deadly

Miller told his friend to use his vehicle to block McKinzy from leaving, according to court records. Prosecutors say McKinzy then backed her car into the friend’s vehicle.

The friend then got out of his vehicle to inspect the damage. That is when he reportedly saw Miller throw a knife at the hood of McKinzy’s car. Surveillance footage was also obtained, which officials say allegedly showed Miller using that knife to puncture McKinzy’s tires.

Authorities say McKinzy then put her vehicle in reverse, hit Miller, and then backed over him. Miller’s friend reportedly saw him underneath the vehicle and yelled for McKinzy to move the car.

According to the affidavit, McKinzy said Miller was “trying to kill me” before she left the parking lot. Miller died at the scene.

The arrest comes months later

While the incident took place in November 2025, no arrest was made until August 2026.

Court records state that investigators were able to locate McKinzy’s vehicle at a tire shop later that same day in November.

Authorities said evidence found with the vehicle connected it to the scene, including damage to the hood and a hubcap matching one recovered from the parking lot. They also reportedly found belongings and documents with McKinzy’s name on them.

While police did obtain an arrest warrant, McKinzy had already left the area.

In August, U.S. Marshals were able to locate McKinzy in Bakersfield and took her into custody. She was then extradited to Oregon on September 18 to face the case.

What started with a $3,200 winning lottery ticket had, according to prosecutors, escalated into a dispute over hundreds of dollars, a violent confrontation, and the death of the man who originally had the winning ticket.

Enjoy playing the Oregon Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.