A woman have been sued by her pastor, after she gave him $700,000 out of her jackpot winnings but he wanted $10 million.
Marie Holmes, a mother of four based in North Carolina, the United States of America, who was struggling to pay the bills for her children and worked several jobs to keep the household afloat, won $188 million in the North Carolina Powerball lottery, choosing to take her winnings in the form of a $127 million lump sum, according to the Inquisitr.
Kevin Matthews, a pastor at a local church who had given Holmes spiritual help and counseling, claimed that he and Holmes had a verbal commitment for a large donation to help Matthews purchase a parcel of land.
Holmes and Matthews originally had planned to work together to purchase land for a retreat center at Matthews’ suggestion, and he had asked for $1-2 million from Holmes to facilitate the deal.
But after Mrs Holmes gave him $700,000 for the land, he sued her, claiming that he and Holmes had a verbal commitment for a large donation to help Matthews purchase a parcel of land.
Matthews felt their verbal agreement entitled him to more.
“The bottom line…I just want her to do what she said she was going to do,” Matthews said, according to Centric TV.
"I want peace and to do what God told me to do. I want her to do what she said she was going to do. I really feel like a warrior for Christ and people need to be accountable.”
Matthews claimed he had to ramp up the dosage on various antidepressants and other medication as a result of the issues between him and Holmes.
“I didn’t see this coming and I think it was a third party that came along and told her not to do this,” Matthews added, questioning whether it was Holmes’ aunt, who was named the chief executive of a fund in Holmes’ name, behind the cancellation of the agreement.
Holmes felt the stress of being financially accountable not only for the land Matthews wanted to buy but also helped bail her boyfriend out of prison several times.
According to a report from Black Web America, Holmes had shelled out nearly $21 million to keep Lamar McDow out from behind bars.
She also purchased a home for her mother in Seattle, WA, and bought an entire business for her fiance to run.