Human remains found buried under recently added concrete at a home in Plant City, Florida, are likely those of missing lottery millionaire Abraham Shakespeare, police said Thursday.
Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said the body was slowly being uncovered. They are awaiting positive identification.
However, Gee said their investigation and information specifically led them to the area after they began to believe he might be dead because of "sinister means and motives."
"Our indications were it would be there," Gee said during a press conference Thursday night.
Police on Wednesday had scanned the newly finished concrete slabs near the home on Wednesday and removed it. On Thursday, Gee said they discovered the remains buried five feet below the surface, and it appeared the remains had been there for awhile.
Shakespeare, a 43-year-old truck driver, won a $31 million Florida lottery prize in 2006. A year later, he won a court challenge from a fellow trucker who accused Shakespeare of snatching the winning ticket out of his wallet while the two were delivering meat to Miami restaurants.
Shakespeare's family reported him missing on November 9, telling the Polk County sheriff's office they hadn't seen him since April.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said when their investigation began, they had hoped to find Shakespeare alive "and he truly had just wanted to hide from those who were asking him for money."
"As our investigation continued, the information we developed led us to believe he may very well have ended up with an untimely death," Judd said.
Both Judd and Gee said they would not comment on whether anything else was found inside the manmade grave, or whether a previous person of interest was connected to the area.
While they await identification of the remains, police said they would begin to shift their focus to a murder investigation.
"It's painfully obvious he didn't get there by himself," Judd said.
Gee said police from Polk and Hillsborough Counties were already working with prosecutors on the case and hope to bring to justice the person responsible for what they believe is clearly cold-blooded murder.
"Somebody put that body in that hole," Gee said. "This isn't by any means just where we find someone on the side of the road. Somebody has obviously put him there."
Thanks to Jazi76 for the tip.
A very sad ending indeed. I hope they find the person or persons who did this.
Wow! That's just horrible. All the more reason to claim the prize 'anonymously'.
Wow, my thoughts and prayers go out to this mans family.That is very disspointing news.
Theres still a lot of investigating to do.There is no cause of death no one knows "how" he was killed if a weapon was involved and what person(s) is responsible for what appears to be a murder.If this is a murder case , it's very sad indeed.More importantly it would mean there is still a cold blooded killer on the loose who may or may not strike again. Doesn't matter if the person(s) attempts to strike again one murder is too many and I really hope and pray to god that whoever is responsible for this hideous crime is caught and sent to jail before he or she has the chance to strike again.
An awful ending to this story.
I'm so sorry for his family.
Absolutely why I would claim anonymous...you just never know.
How horrible.
My condolences go out to his family.
I agree !!!.......Horrible.......I think too If I won......I would just keep it to myself......and give some to family and friends....who knows.......but I believe that this man was decent and generous........and met with foul play......by others who were "greedy and selfish"......because of what they did.......... he cannot help anyone at all.........now...... !!!!
I hope they lock up Dee Dee and throw away the key.
The body was found at a property owned by Dee Dee's boyfriend.
Sad news.
The Florida lottery doesn't allow winners to claim prizes anonymously, they really need to change that; it is madness!
Moving to a safer neighborhood is important.
I pray for this man rest in peace.
I have a rule in my house that after we win millions WE MOVE!!..Simple..
Wow, that sucks....its a true fact u cannot let everyone know your BUSINESS!
"a fellow trucker who accused Shakespeare of snatching the winning ticket out of his wallet"
He's the Guy!
Swift capital punishment in all states would significantly reduce 1st degree murder. Murdering another human being for no other reason than greed is especially despicable.
I did a Google search on this story and it is so sad. Apparently Dee-Dee is a real piece of work. She was supposed to be his "financial advisor". He apparently was not very well educated (poor reading skills) and everything that he bought with his money, ie real estate, etc now belongs to her. He had purchased a 1 million dollar home in a gated community and later sold it to her for about 700,000.00. She also owns or "is taking care of" the rest of his real estate through some company she is supposed to own. He took the lump sum payment of 16 million but now the police say that that money is long gone and Dee Dee has most of it or what it bought.
I figured she had him killed because even though he couldn't read or write very well, he figured out that was she was doing to him was wrong and he was probably going to go back to the lawyer who helped him win his case and tell him what she had done to him-scammed him out of all of his money and assets.
I agree. I feel bad for this mans family and for the man himself.
I feel so very sorry for Shakespeare's mother - what that poor woman has been through.
The Nightline story on how Dee Dee Moore pursued this man and took control of his money is really just the tip of the iceberg.
This woman is truly a piece of work. I'm glad she'll be arrested very soon. She better get a new attorney because the one
she had just withdrew from the case. Hope they froze all her bank accounts - if anything is left , it should be given to Shakespeare's mother.
So little regard, respect and dignity for human life. Be careful of who you trust.
So tragic for his mom and family. Condolences to them.
well as the saying goes, whatever you have in this world, there is always someone out there that wants it from you, hope this is a wake up call for florida lotto when it comes to annonimity, but who am i to say, im just an 800lbs gorilla.
Exactly what I was thinking...
"[T]hey discovered the remains buried five feet below the surface ..."
Likely 'persons'. I imagine the amount of work required to move that volume of soil -- twice -- is no small task.
While lottery winners cannot remain anonymous, there's this -- The executioner: Is a private citizen who is paid $150 per execution. State law allows for his or her identity to remain anonymous. Source: Florida Death Row Fact Sheet
Safer neighborhood? Whats that? move to where no one even knows your name. ( including family). I plan to help people the way entertainers do-- silently and anonymously.
My condolences to the family.
i can't imaging that somebody kill or murder someone cause they say no,, people that want to kill and it not even their, i dont think dee dee could have done it even though she didn't care she was getting it anyway,,she was getting it the legal way, but she could know who have done it or seem that punk.
The slab he was buried under belonged to her brother..she is knee deep in this. And NO she did not get his money "the legal way". I wish they would hook up old sparky for her but*. You are very nieve if you think someone will not kill you if you have something they desperately want. It happens everyday.
I wouldn't think so..as they found his body at Dee Dee's boyfriends house. And as I was watching fox news today..unfortunately they matched his fingerprints..it is Shakespeare...too sad..he was just surrounded by cruel and greedy people.. and they do have the death penalty in Florida and hope these 2 creeps get what they deserve !!!