A Michigan couple who won the Michigan lottery in 2016 were arrested for a string of burglaries over a several-month span, according to reports.
Stephanie Harvell and Mitchell Arnswald won $500,000 on the very same day Harvell was served with an eviction notice.
She said that she, her husband, and their daughters lived paycheck-to-paycheck.
“I still can’t believe it,” Harvell said at the time.
Bay County Sheriff Troy Cunningham told MLive that officials were investigating a number of daytime burglaries in the area and are trying to determine which ones the couple committed.
A dozen similar burglaries were reported in Bay County, Michigan, in the past two months, he said.
“We believe they could be responsible for more than what we know of,” he added.
Police said that when they arrested the pair, they discovered items discovered from a home in Merritt Township. Later, when they obtained a warrant, they found more evidence tied to other burglaries, MLive reported.
More charges could result in the case, police said. “The different jurisdictions are still getting together to pinpoint which ones we think they committed,” Cunningham explained
In the 2016 press release, Harvell said she wanted to start college funds for her daughters, get a new car, and buy a house.
Cautionary Tale
The pair aren’t the first to fall from grace after winning the lottery.However, things didn’t go as planned for Edwards—like many lottery winners.
After the win, Edwards and his wife spent the money on a mansion, dozens of expensive cars, and even a jet, according to the report. He spent $600,000 on one home and bought a $1.6 million Florida mansion.
Edwards bought a $1.9 million LearJet, three racehorses—who lost—and purchased two businesses worth $4.5 million.
The New Times reported that he spent more than $12 million after one year.
Edwards also bought 200 swords, armor, and other antiques.
But after winning, he and his wife were arrested multiple times for pills, heroin, and crack cocaine, the New Times reported. They had both contracted hepatitis.