A dispute over a $3,200 lottery win in Portland is now the focus of a criminal case after 75-year-old James S. Miller died from blunt-force trauma. Mary Ann McKinzy, 55, was arrested in California and extradited to Multnomah County; she faces second-degree murder, first-degree assault and negligent homicide charges. Investigators cite surveillance footage and vehicle evidence, including matching hubcaps, as linking McKinzy’s car to the scene. She remains jailed and is due back in court on September 29.
Lottery Dispute Turns Deadly: Oregon Woman Charged With Murder After Alleged Run-Over Over $3,200
Madera County Sheriff's Office via Recently Booked; Mega
A $3,200 lottery payout is at the center of an alleged domestic dispute in Portland that prosecutors say ended with one partner dead and the other facing multiple serious criminal charges.
Mary Ann McKinzy, 55, has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and negligent homicide in connection with the 2025 death of her partner, James S. Miller, 75, according to a Portland Police release.
What Authorities Say Happened
Prosecutors say Miller had won $3,200 on a lottery ticket while the couple were together. Court papers cited by local outlets state Miller gave McKinzy $1,700 but later accused her of taking an additional $800.
The confrontation is said to have occurred on November 28, 2025, at the Candalaria Plaza Apartments in Portland’s Centennial neighborhood, where McKinzy lived. According to reports, Miller went to the complex with a friend to confront McKinzy about the allegedly missing cash.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
"Open the door or I'm going to bust the window open," the friend told police he heard Miller say.
Police say Miller asked his companion to block McKinzy’s car so she could not leave. Investigators allege surveillance footage shows Miller puncturing one or more tires with a knife, and that McKinzy then reversed her vehicle over Miller. When the friend reportedly told McKinzy to move the car, he said he heard her tell him Miller was "trying to kill" her before she drove away.
Investigation and Evidence
Authorities later determined Miller suffered fatal blunt-force trauma. Investigators located McKinzy’s vehicle at a local tire shop and recovered items they say tie the car to the scene, including hubcaps matching one recovered at the crash site, according to reports.
Arrest, Charges and Court Status
U.S. Marshals arrested McKinzy in Bakersfield, California, on August 5, 2026, and she was extradited to Multnomah County on September 18, authorities said. McKinzy remains in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center and has not yet entered a plea. Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 29.
The allegations in this case come from police reports, court papers and local news accounts; charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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