ASHEBORO, N.C.—
When Amanda Tucker won the raffle at the Asheboro Chili Cookoff in April and was promised to have her mortgage paid for a year, she was so excited she cried tears of joy that night. But her happiness faded quickly.According to Tucker, the mortgage payments stopped after two months and she hasn't been able to get in touch with Bryan Vaughan, who organized the chili cookoff and the raffle.
"I cried. I got my family in there, we were so excited," Tucker told FOX8 News on Tuesday. "I told them our mortgage had been paid for for a year. I couldn't believe it, I was so excited."
The top raffle prize offered the winner two options: $8,000 up front or a year's worth of mortgage payments up to $1,000 per month. Tucker chose the second option, and for two months, things were dandy.
"It was a blessing to get that money," she said. "Then, when he stopped paying, I just felt very betrayed."
Tucker says Vaughan still owes her $9,500 and attempts to reach him by e-mail, phone and at his home have been unsuccessful.
The owners of the building on North Fayetteville St. where Vaughan opened his bagel store less than a year ago said they haven't heard from him since he shut down The Bagel Shop about two months ago.
"We helped him get started by giving him the (space) rent-free (for) awhile and furnishing him the equipment that was already in the building and working with him until he got going," said Jeff Schwartz, who worked with Vaughan to get The Bagel Shop up and running.
Schwartz said Vaughan abruptly closed up shop about two months ago and hasn't been heard from since.
City leaders estimate about 30,000 people came out to the chili cookoff, and downtown business owners wonder if the event will continue without Vaughan.
"I think someone will pick i up and it will take off again," said David Hatfield, the co-owner of The Soda Shop. "Hopefully, it'll be a good turnout next year."
As for Tucker, she says if there's another cookoff, she'll be there. Just don't expect her to buy any more raffle tickets.
