TRENTON, N.J. -- A woman who said a dead uncle suggested the winning numbers in a dream came forward Tuesday to claim a jackpot of more than $2.7 million from the New Jersey Pick-6 Lotto game,

Ida Crocco, 39, of Belleville, presented lottery officials with the only ticket sold for Monday's drawing that matched all six winning numbers: 5, 7, 12, 16, 21 and 36.


'I had a dear uncle who passed away last year and I had a dream of him Sunday night,' Crocco, an Italian immigrant who speaks little English, told reporters through an interpreter.

'He said for me to go play these numbers,' she said.

Crocco said that, when she awoke Monday, she wrote down the numbers and then walked through a rainstorm to a local deli to buy the winning ticket. The new millionaire said she was reluctant at first to go out into the rain, but that relatives encouraged her to play the lotto after she told them of the dream.

She said she was uncertain how she would use the prize money, which is payable in 20 annual installments.