The Curse of Kindness: The Lottery Murder of Abraham Shakespeare
On paper, Abraham Shakespeare had it made. In November 2006, the 40-year-old Florida laborer, who barely made ends meet hauling concrete blocks, walked into a convenience store and bought a lottery ticket. That single ticket hit the $30 million jackpot. And just like that, Abraham’s life was supposed to change for the better.
But it didn’t.
What unfolded over the next three years was a haunting, tragic, and infuriating descent into betrayal. It’s a story where the villain pretends to be a savior, where money is weaponized, and where a man who simply wanted to help others was manipulated into silence—permanently.
In this week’s Crime Clueless episode, we dive deep into the murder of Abraham Shakespeare at the hands of Dorice “Dee Dee” Moore. You may think you’ve heard this case before—but we’re betting you haven’t heard it like this.
From Rags to Riches to Regret
Abraham Shakespeare wasn’t flashy. He didn’t come from money. In fact, he could barely read or write. But he was known as kind. Quiet. The type of guy who might give you the shirt off his back even if he wasn’t wearing another.
So when he took the lump sum payout of $17 million, he didn’t splurge on yachts or sports cars. He bought a modest home in a gated community. Helped friends. Paid off people’s debts. Gave money to anyone with a sad story—because, as he saw it, that’s what decent people do when they’ve been blessed.
But the blessings quickly became burdens. Abraham started noticing that most people around him didn’t see himanymore—just his wallet. His mother would later recall him saying, “I’d have been better off broke.”
Sadly, he was right.
Enter Dee Dee Moore: “Helper,” Hustler, and Eventually, Killer
Dorice “Dee Dee” Moore was one of those people who seemed to appear out of nowhere with a solution to every problem. In Abraham’s case, she offered him relief. She told him she wanted to write a book about his experience as a lottery winner. She wasn’t asking for money—just access. Just trust.
And Abraham gave it to her.
It wasn’t long before Moore convinced him to open a business account with her. Soon after, she was the only one who could access it. By all accounts, Moore quickly helped herself to over a million dollars, bought herself luxury cars, took vacations, and paid off her personal debts—all while painting herself as Abraham’s savior.
And when Abraham started to realize something was off? He vanished.
The Cover-Up: Bold Lies and Brazen Tactics
If Dee Dee Moore had stopped there, this story might’ve been just another financial scam. But she didn’t. When Abraham disappeared in April 2009, she launched a cover-up so elaborate, so disturbingly confident, it’s almost cinematic.
She sent fake text messages from Abraham’s phone—despite the fact that he hated texting. She told his mother he had AIDS. She told his girlfriend he’d run off with another woman. She paid someone to impersonate his voice and call his mom on Christmas. She even tried to bribe people to say they’d seen him alive.
At one point, she typed a fake letter from Abraham to his mom on a brand-new laptop, while wearing gloves and a surgical mask so the cops couldn’t trace DNA back to her. The letter? It just so happened to say that Dee Dee Moore was a trustworthy person and that Abraham was choosing to disappear.
Not suspicious at all, right?
The Sting That Brought Her Down
By the time Abraham’s family officially reported him missing, Moore was already living in his house, still draining his assets. But police were catching on. Enter Greg Smith, a friend of Abraham’s and—unknowingly at first—Moore’s pawn.
When detectives flipped Greg, he agreed to go undercover. He introduced Moore to a fake “cousin”—actually an undercover cop—who offered to take the fall for Abraham’s murder… for a price.
And Moore? She took the bait.
She handed Greg a map showing where Abraham’s body was buried, a .38-caliber revolver, and detailed exactly how Abraham died. Days later, investigators uncovered Abraham’s body—buried under a concrete slab in the backyard of a home Moore had access to. He’d been shot twice in the chest.
Courtroom Chaos and No Remorse
At trial, Moore pulled out all the stops. She cried. She made bizarre outbursts. She claimed the real killer was an ex-friend. Or maybe it was drug dealers. Or Greg Smith. Or even her own teenage son. She changed her story so many times, the judge called her “the most manipulative person this court has ever seen.”
The jury didn’t buy it.
Dee Dee Moore was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
And yet, even from behind bars, she continues to proclaim her innocence. In interviews, she’s accused everyone else of the crime. She’s cited her love of Mickey Mouse as proof she couldn’t possibly kill someone. And she even claimed her tongue went into anaphylactic shock on the witness stand. (Yes. Really.)
What This Case Teaches Us
Abraham Shakespeare didn’t die because he was reckless or selfish. He died because he believed people deserved help—even if they couldn’t pay him back. He died because he trusted the wrong person.
This week’s episode of Crime Clueless isn’t just a rehash of the headlines. We pull in court transcripts, undercover audio, news coverage, and underreported parts of Moore’s criminal past—including her wild insurance scam from years earlier where she faked her own kidnapping.
We talk about how wealth doesn’t always bring freedom—and how predators like Moore know exactly how to weaponize your goodwill. And we dig into the aftermath, including the heartbreaking impact on Abraham’s children, the grace of his mother who forgave Moore, and Moore’s never-ending circus of delusion behind bars.
Final Thoughts
Some true crime cases leave you stunned. Others, angry. This one might do both. Abraham Shakespeare deserved better—better friends, better protection, better luck after hitting the jackpot. Instead, he found someone who saw him not as a man, but as a meal ticket.
🎧 Listen now to The Curse of Kindness: The Lottery Murder of Abraham Shakespeare wherever you get your podcasts.
And remember:
Kindness is powerful. But without boundaries, it can become a target.
Recent News & Features
People.com – “Lottery Winner Trusted Her to Write a Book… Instead, She Killed Him and Took the Money”
A fresh April 2025 feature summarizing the murder, trial, and prison interviews—including Moore's jailhouse call claiming innocence and her Disney-inspired defense. People.com
📰 Investigative & News Coverage
ABC News – “Lottery winner's convicted killer speaks out from behind bars” (April 2025)
An in-depth jailhouse interview with Dee Dee Moore via 20/20, exploring her version of events and ongoing appeals. ABC NewsABC News – “How amateur web sleuths helped solve the case of missing lottery winner…” (2023)
Highlights the critical role of online communities and informant Greg Smith in advancing the investigation. ABC News
🎥 TV Specials & Documentaries
Oxygen – Buried in the Backyard
An episode that gives a comprehensive cinematic review of the case, including exclusive family interviews and dramatization. OxygenOxygen Insider – “Dorice ‘Dee Dee’ Moore Shows Home Video of Abraham”
A clip from Floribama Murders showing Moore presenting a home video—an eerie piece of the cover-up puzzle.Oxygen OxygenHulu – Web of Death, Episode 1 (featuring Abraham Shakespeare)
Delivers a serialized narrative of the investigation and Dee Dee Moore’s manipulation.
📚 Deep Dive Articles & Analysis
Sportskeeda – “5 key details about Abraham Shakespeare’s murder”
Offers a quick overview of standout elements in the case, like the co-worker lawsuit and key suspects. SportskeedaSouthern Fried True Crime – “Abraham Shakespeare: Heart of Gold”
A character-focused piece exploring Shakespeare’s generosity and Moore’s rapid manipulation.southernfriedtruecrime.com
⚖️ Reference & Timeline Sources
Wikipedia – “Murder of Abraham Shakespeare”
A thoroughly sourced overview containing timeline, background, and Moore’s prior convictions.WikipediaSmith Investigation Agency blog – “A Private Investigator's Perspective…”
A recent analysis giving investigative insight into the search, discovery of evidence, and police process.smithinvestigationagency.comCharley Project Blog
A detailed, compassionate narrative of Shakespeare’s personality, life, winnings, and tragic death. Charley Project
💬 Community & True Crime Discussion
Reddit r/TrueCrimeDiscussion
Threads with emotional and thoughtful reflections on Abraham’s tragedy and Moore’s depravity. reddit.comWebsleuths forum
Offers a grassroots timeline and community aggregations of news, broken records, witness commentary. Web Sleuths
📽 Video Overview
YouTube – “Murder By Lottery Numbers: The Case of Abraham Shakespeare”A documentary-style video featuring stings, interviews, and footage of Moore’s incriminating statements.Link
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