Horrifying tragedies after winning the lottery jackpot in the US

The prize money is up to millions, billions of dollars, the chance to try your luck and change your life is attracting Americans to play the lottery. However, there are many lottery winners who receive many tragedies...

1 - Jeffrey Dampier Jr. : Kidnapped and murdered

Jeffrey Dampier Jr. was kidnapped and murdered by his sister-in-law and her boyfriend - Photo: AP

According to ABC News, Jeffrey Dampier Jr. and his wife won a $20 million jackpot in Illinois in 1996.

Shortly after their divorce, Dampier remarried to Crystal Jackson. They moved to Tampa, Florida, where they both decided to invest their winnings.

In 2005, Dampier was kidnapped by her sister-in-law Victoria Jackson and her boyfriend Nathaniel Jackson. Three days later, Dampier was found dead in Nathaniel Jackson's truck, and the couple were arrested shortly thereafter. Both were sentenced to life in prison for murder.

2 - Sandra Hayes: Friend Becomes Enemy

Sandra Hayes says colleagues and friends become enemies in an instant - Photo: AP

In 2006, Sandra Hayes won a $224 million Powerball jackpot. However, she was forced to share her winnings with dozens of other co-workers.

Not only did Hayes lose a large sum of money, but his former friends became his enemies. “I had to put up with their greed, and they did everything they could to get money. It was hard to feel like people who were close to me were now trying to drag me down,” Hayes said.

3 - Mack Metcalf separated from his wife and died of alcoholism

Mack Metcalf and Virginia Merida, once in love, divorced after splitting the prize - Photo: AP

After winning $34 million in Kentucky in 2000, the once-loving couple Mack Metcalf and Virginia Merida split up and ended up living in separate mansions.

Mack Metcalf and Virginia Merida estranged and quickly divorced in 2001 after being forced to split their winnings.

In 2003, Mack Metcalf died at the age of 45 from alcoholism. Later that year, Virginia Merida was also found dead in her bed of unknown causes.

4 - Shakespeare's body was discovered under a concrete block

Millionaire former janitor Abraham Shakespeare was swindled out of his money and shot dead - Photo: AP

A $17 million prize in Florida in 2006 turned 47-year-old janitor Abraham Shakespeare into an overnight millionaire.

Shortly afterwards, Shakespeare became friends with a woman named Doris "Dee Dee" Moore, who was later accused of kidnapping and murdering Shakespeare after swindling him of his remaining money.

In 2009, Shakespeare's body was found under a concrete slab. Police said he had been shot twice in the chest but had not been reported missing. Doris Moore was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence.

5 - Jack Whittaker goes missing and his body is found wrapped in a plastic sheet

Jack Whittaker drank and his niece was murdered - Photo: AP

Winning $113 million of the $315 million jackpot was the biggest Christmas present Jack Whittaker received in 2002.

But within a few years, Whittaker quickly regretted winning. His construction company was constantly being sued, and he began drinking heavily.

In December 2004, Bragg went missing and her body was found wrapped in plastic. Her cause of death was not disclosed.

6 - Urooj Khan was poisoned with cyanide

Urooj Khan, millionaire poisoned with cyanide shortly after receiving the award - Photo: AP

Khan came to Illinois from India to pursue his “American dream.” He owned a dry cleaners before winning $1 million in 2012.

However, not long after receiving the award, Khan was found dead. The coroner concluded that Khan had been poisoned with cyanide.

There was much speculation that Khan was poisoned shortly after winning the lottery, but no one was ever charged with killing Urooj Khan.

7 - David Edwards ended his life in poverty

David Edwards spent lavishly and died in poverty - Photo: AP

“A poor man’s dream come true,” Edwards exclaimed after being one of two winners of the $295 million jackpot in 2001. He had just been laid off from a telecommunications company and the 46-year-old divorced man needed money for surgery.

Edwards was confident: “I thought I could manage my money with the help of financial advisors.” But then he squandered his money on nice houses, luxury cars and other pleasures. Edwards was arrested for drug use and jail time. In 2014, at the age of 58, the once-millionaire ended his life in poverty in Kentucky.

According to VNE