Winnings missing after man collapses, dies

John Curran

Wednesday, March 6, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

ATLANTIC CITY -- John April didn't even get to tell his wife about the $10,000 slot machine jackpot. He was gone before he had the chance. So was the money.

The 61-year-old Philadelphia man hit the jackpot on a $2 machine while gambling Feb. 15 at Harrah's.

But after being paid $5,000 in a check and $5,000 in cash, April suffered a heart attack as he and his wife were being seated at a casino lounge. He died later.

Georgene Corcoran, his common-law wife of 22 years, didn't know about the jackpot until three days later, when she opened a manila envelope containing his personal effects, which she had been given at the hospital.

Inside was a W-2 form issued by the casino for a $10,000 jackpot won by April. There was no cash and no check, just a gold chain, a pair of dentures, his wallet and some cash -- a $100 bill, five $20s, four $5s and coins.

"There's no ifs ands or buts. Somebody took that money," Corcoran, 59, said. "It was bad enough that I lost him. But to have somebody steal his money, that really hurt."

Police are investigating whether someone robbed April after his collapse or en route to Atlantic City Medical Center, where he was taken and later pronounced dead.

"We're hoping that if it was theft, we can solve it," Sgt. Michael Tullio, a police spokesman, said. "From what I understand about the confusion at the scene, anything's possible. It could've been stolen or lost. That's what we're trying to find out."

April had always dreamed of hitting it big.

A courier at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pa., he and his wife visited Atlantic City about twice a month. He was a "Total Diamond player," the highest-rated status for slot machine players, casino spokeswoman Susan Kotzen said.

He hit the jackpot at 10:20 p.m., and elected to be paid half in cash and half in a check, Kotzen said. After winning, he played some more slot machines before going to find Corcoran, who was also playing slots.

"He said to me, 'How you doing?' I said 'Lousy.' He said, 'Let's go take a break.' We walked into the lounge and he said, 'Is this table all right, honey?' "

As he pulled out a chair for Corcoran to sit in, April collapsed. That was at 10:55 p.m., 35 minutes after he won.

Corcoran, a certified nursing assistant, performed CPR on April as he lay on the carpeting at the Atrium Lounge. When paramedics arrived, they removed some of April's clothing to administer electroshocks with a defibrillator.

More than 20 people stood watching. Police believe one of them may have stolen the money, but no suspects have been identified.

The casino stopped payment on the check, but it was not immediately clear if a new one was issued. Kotzen did not return a phone call from the Associated Press Tuesday.

The area where April fell is covered by surveillance cameras, as was the slot machine and the payout.

"Both tapes have been turned over to the Atlantic City Police Department, as requested," Kotzen said earlier.

Police won't say whether the theft or anything unusual appears on the tapes. Tullio would not comment when asked if Corcoran was suspected.

"We have a group of people who are identified, who we can talk to. We know there's other people in that video. It was a large number of patrons standing around as the paramedics worked on Mr. April. We're going to attempt to try to identify some and speak to them," Tullio said.

For Corcoran, the pain isn't going away. She has since found out she must declare the $10,000 jackpot on her income taxes, even though she never saw the money.

She's also holding a $7,000 bill for his funeral.

"I can't believe somebody would steal from a dead man. I go to church and I pray for my John and for the man who stole it, because he'll need all the luck in the world. God will pay him back," she said.