Police have busted an Oregon woman who bought a State Lottery ticket with a credit card belonging to her deceased mother-in-law and promptly won $1m, AP reports.

Christina Goodenow of White City bought the winning ticket on 9 October and three days later presented herself at Oregon Lottery HQ in Salem to collect the $33,500 first installment of the prize, which is paid over 20 years. The cops raided Goodenow's house last Thursday, turning up some methamphetamine but little sign of the cash.

Goodenow faces "numerous theft-related charges", as well as forgery and possession of methamphetamine raps. If convicted of any of these, she will not see the balance of her good fortune.

Police Lt. Tim George told AP: "Our investigation is still trying to determine what happened to the $33,500," while Lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann admitted: "I'll be fascinated to see how this shakes out. In my 12 years with the Oregon Lottery, this is the first time I've encountered something like this." ®