The Tragic Downfall of a $30 Million Lottery Winner
Abraham Lee Shakespeare's life took a dramatic turn when he won a staggering $30 million in the Florida lottery in 2006. However, just two years later, his body was discovered shot dead and buried beneath a slab of concrete in the garden of a property owned by an acquaintance. This shocking case highlights the dark side of sudden wealth and the exploitation that can follow.
From Humble Beginnings to Multi-Millionaire
Before his lottery win, Abraham, 43, lived a modest life in rural Plant Town, east of Tampa. He worked odd jobs to make ends meet, including driving rubbish trucks and sweeping hair at barber shops. Described as a "gentle soul" and "barely literate", he was known for his extreme generosity. His brother, Robert Brown, later revealed that Abraham admitted he would have been "better off broke" after the win, as reported by the St Augustine Record.
The Exploitation Begins
Almost immediately after claiming his prize publicly, Abraham faced constant pestering from people seeking money. Samuel Jones, a friend since childhood, noted that Abraham struggled to comprehend the rapid changes, saying, "He really didn't understand it at all. It was moving so fast. It changed his life in a bad way." Abraham expressed disillusionment, telling Samuel, "I thought all these people were my friends, but then I realised all they want is just money."
Enter Dorice 'DeeDee' Moore
In 2007, Abraham met Dorice Donegan Moore, 49, known as 'DeeDee', who presented herself as a biographer interested in his life. Police later identified her as a con artist solely after his wealth. DeeDee assumed a role as his financial consultant, and documents show her firm, American Medical Professionals, acquired Shakespeare's million-dollar property in Lakeland for $655,000 in January 2009. By February 2009, she had helped establish a company for Abraham, granting herself authority to authorise payments, including a $1 million transaction.
The Disappearance and Deception
Abraham was last seen in April 2009. His family initially hoped he had escaped to a beach to avoid the harassment, but DeeDee told the Lakeland Ledger he was "laying low" and claimed she helped him disappear. In reality, detectives uncovered a sinister plot: DeeDee used Abraham's phone to message his family and friends, making it appear he was alive. She even paid a relative $5,000 to deliver a birthday card to his mother, pretending it was from Abraham.
The Gruesome Discovery
On January 25, 2010, Abraham's remains were found shot dead and buried under concrete in the rear garden of a property previously purchased by Moore. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called DeeDee a "con artist", stating, "DeeDee Moore has cheated Abraham Shakespeare out of his money, and possibly his life." During the investigation, her ex-husband revealed that on the night of the killing, DeeDee had him operate machinery to excavate and fill a hole in the garden, though he claimed no knowledge of a body.
Justice Served and Ongoing Campaign
In 2012, a jury convicted Moore of first-degree murder, and she was sentenced to life without parole at Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala, Florida. In a 2023 prison interview, Moore maintained her innocence, saying, "It was wrong. There was no reason for him to pass away over money... the whole situation was so stupid." Despite her role, she has campaigned for lottery winners to have their identities shielded for at least six months after claiming prizes, arguing it "puts a target on them." In May 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation allowing winners of over $250,000 to remain anonymous permanently, with details for prizes of at least $600 made public after 90 days.
This tragic story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that can accompany sudden wealth, urging caution and awareness for future winners.
