Lottery Winner's Body Found Hidden Under Concrete Years After Prize Withdrawal

Abraham Lee Shakespeare was a truck driver's assistant who lived with his mother in the rural area of Plant Town, Tampa. His life changed drastically in 2006 when he won a fortune in the lottery. Described as semi-literate and incredibly generous, Shakespeare quickly found himself surrounded by people who saw his fortune as an opportunity for their own gain.

Fame and money completely transformed Shakespeare's life, but he was not prepared to deal with the consequences. Many took advantage of his generosity, and Shakespeare realized that not everyone who approached him did so with good intentions.

One of these individuals was Dorice Donegan Moore, nicknamed DeeDee, who entered Shakespeare's life under the pretense of writing a book about his life. However, Moore quickly became his financial advisor and a central presence in his life, manipulating him for her own benefit.

However, her true motives soon came to light when documents revealed suspicious transactions and a pattern of financial manipulation. The local sheriff described her as a "con artist" whose actions possibly cost Shakespeare his life.

Events took a dark turn when Shakespeare disappeared in 2009. Initially, his family believed he had decided to disappear to escape the pressures of his new life, but the shocking truth came to light when his body was found buried under concrete, revealing a plot of manipulation and greed.

Moore was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison, highlighting the dangers associated with sudden wealth from the lottery and the vulnerability of winners to unscrupulous individuals.

Jonas Lucas Alves Dias

Jonas Lucas Alves Dias was murdered last Wednesday (14) in Hortolândia, in the interior of São Paulo. He had been kidnapped on Tuesday (13) and spent about 20 hours in the hands of criminals before being abandoned on an access ramp of the Bandeirantes Highway. The thieves managed to make a Pix transfer of R$ 18.6 million from Dias' account and also attempted a transfer of R$ 3 million, which was denied by the bank. In the city, the Mega winner didn't mind revealing that he had won R$ 47 million in a prize in 2020. The police are investigating the case.

Renné Senna

Former farmer and candy seller Renné Senna was shot dead in 2007 in Rio Bonito (RJ), two years after winning R$ 52 million in 2005, a value now estimated at around R$ 90 million. Known as the 'Mega-Sena Widow', Adriana da Almeida was identified as responsible for the farmer's death. In 2016, she was sentenced to 21 years in prison for double-qualified homicide (base motives and lack of victim defense opportunity). After being involved in an extramarital relationship, according to investigations, she ordered the murder fearing that the victim would discover the betrayal and revoke the will that would guarantee her part of the inheritance.

Miguel Ferreira de Oliveira

Known as "the Mega-Sena millionaire" in Ceará, Miguel Ferreira de Oliveira was murdered in 2018, at the age of 50, in Campos Sales (CE), shot three times by a man in a pizzeria in the Alto Alegre neighborhood. A native of São Paulo, Oliveira won a prize of R$ 39 million in 2011 and moved to the municipality of Ceará, where he acquired properties and lived off rentals. Antônio dos Santos, the suspect in the murder, was arrested in April 2019. When he was released from prison, the man was also executed. It is still unknown whether the crime had masterminds.

Fábio Leão Barros

In 2006, Fábio Leão Barros won the Mega and received R$ 28 million. Four years later, the man was murdered. What shocked everyone was the suspected mastermind of the crime, according to investigations: Francisco Serafim de Barros, the victim's father. "I wouldn't have the courage to take such an action against anyone. Much less with my son," Serafim told Record TV at the time, explaining that, in the year of the prize, the money was deposited into his account at the request of his son, who allegedly claimed not to know how to manage the amount. The man was arrested in Cuiabá (MT) and remained detained for days until he was released to respond to the charges in freedom.

Also in Mato Grosso, in 2011, a couple won R$ 1.4 million in the federal lottery and ended up murdered. The crime occurred in the municipality of Pontes e Lacerda. On the night of the crime, the assassins kidnapped the couple's one-year-and-six-month-old son, who was rescued months later. Five people were convicted of the murder. Also in Mato Grosso, in 2011, a couple won R$ 1.4 million in the federal lottery and ended up murdered. The crime occurred in the municipality of Pontes e Lacerda. On the night of the crime, the assassins kidnapped the couple's one-year-and-six-month-old son, who was rescued months later. Five people were convicted of the murder.

Fredolino José Pereira

Mason Fredolino José Pereira, 71, from Viamão (RS), won the Mega-Sena this year. Although he wasn't killed, unlike the cases in Ceará and Mato Grosso, his fate was not satisfactory either: a former partner and his girlfriend scammed him and took over R$ 10 million from him. Both became defendants for money laundering and misappropriation of elderly person's assets. After losing the money, he started doing odd jobs to support his family.

The tragic story of Abraham Lee Shakespeare, exposed in a new report from The Mirror newspaper, highlights the dangers of sudden wealth from the lottery and the need to protect winners against exploitation and manipulation. Shakespeare is not alone in his tragedy, as evidenced by other cases of lottery winners who faced equally dark fates, from kidnappings and murders to frauds and devastating financial losses.

These stories serve as a reminder of the dangers associated with the pursuit of instant fortune and the importance of prioritizing values such as generosity, integrity, and genuine human connections over money. May the tragedies faced by Shakespeare and other lottery winners inspire changes in how society views wealth and success, promoting a culture of safety, protection, and empathy towards those fortunate enough to win the lottery.