Police say a lottery winner was killed after winning a Chicago scratch-off jackpot in June of 2011. Initially, authorities believed Urooj Khan, 46, died of "natural causes." However, after a relative pressed for a toxicology report, a medical examiner said the lottery winner was killed. A cause of death is likely from cyanide poisoning.
According to WGNTV, Khan spent $60 and bought two scratch-off lotto tickets at a 7-11 store in the Rogers Park neighborhood, where he lived and worked. Lo and behold, the second ticket bore the winning numbers for a $1 million prize.
Khan was over the moon and shared the lottery-winning news with his family. He went home, ate dinner and prepared for bed later on the night of June 19. The next day he was supposed to pick up a check of $425,000 for the winnings after taxes. However, he never made it.
After retiring to bed, his wife said he woke up screaming. A short time later, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A death investigation did not indicate foul play or trauma. As a result, Khan's death was ruled due to hardening of the arteries, a natural death.
As the news of his death spread, many were shocked at his sudden passing. He was regular lottery player at the location and many knew him as the owner of three dry cleaning businesses in the area.
Before he died, Khan planned to use the money for charity and to pay off some outstanding bills. Recently, a relative of the Indian native requested a deeper investigation into his death, which was granted.
Shockingly, new evidence suggested the lottery winner was killed due to levels of cyanide in his system.
Now the death of the lottery winner has turned into a murder investigation. Authorities are considering exhuming Khan's body to determine how much cyanide Khan ingested or inhaled.
At this time, police have not divulged any suspects or persons of interest.
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