Chicago lottery winner died from cyanide poisoning
Source: Agencies |
January 9, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WITH no signs of trauma and nothing to raise suspicions, the sudden death of a Chicago man just as he was about to collect nearly US$425,000 in lottery winnings was initially ruled a result of natural causes.
Nearly six months later, authorities have a mystery on their hands after medical examiners, responding to a relative's pleas, did an expanded screening and determined that Urooj Khan, 46, died shortly after ingesting a lethal dose of cyanide. The finding has triggered a homicide investigation, the Chicago Police Department said on Monday.
In June, Khan, who owned a number of dry cleaners, stopped in at a 7-Eleven convenience store near his home in Chicago and bought a ticket for an instant lottery game.
Ashur Oshana, the store clerk, said on Monday that Khan said he bought the tickets that day and scratched off the winner in the store.
Khan recalled days later on June 26 at a ceremony when he was presented with an oversized check that he jumped up and down in the store and repeatedly shouted, "I hit a million!"
"Winning the lottery means everything to me," he said at the ceremony, also attended by his wife Shabana Ansari, their daughter Jasmeen Khan and several friends. He said he would put some of his winnings into his businesses and donate some to a children's hospital.
Instead of the full US$1 million over installments, Khan opted to take his winnings in a lump sum of just over US$600,000. After taxes, the winnings amounted to about US$425,000. The check was issued on July 19, the day before Khan died, but was cashed on August 15. If a lottery winner dies, the money typically goes to his or her estate.
Khan was pronounced dead on July 20 at a hospital.
Nearly six months later, authorities have a mystery on their hands after medical examiners, responding to a relative's pleas, did an expanded screening and determined that Urooj Khan, 46, died shortly after ingesting a lethal dose of cyanide. The finding has triggered a homicide investigation, the Chicago Police Department said on Monday.
In June, Khan, who owned a number of dry cleaners, stopped in at a 7-Eleven convenience store near his home in Chicago and bought a ticket for an instant lottery game.
Ashur Oshana, the store clerk, said on Monday that Khan said he bought the tickets that day and scratched off the winner in the store.
Khan recalled days later on June 26 at a ceremony when he was presented with an oversized check that he jumped up and down in the store and repeatedly shouted, "I hit a million!"
"Winning the lottery means everything to me," he said at the ceremony, also attended by his wife Shabana Ansari, their daughter Jasmeen Khan and several friends. He said he would put some of his winnings into his businesses and donate some to a children's hospital.
Instead of the full US$1 million over installments, Khan opted to take his winnings in a lump sum of just over US$600,000. After taxes, the winnings amounted to about US$425,000. The check was issued on July 19, the day before Khan died, but was cashed on August 15. If a lottery winner dies, the money typically goes to his or her estate.
Khan was pronounced dead on July 20 at a hospital.
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