- Text
Lottery winner at center of murder mystery
(CBS News) For six months, the grave of a million-dollar lottery winner who died suddenly last summer has been undisturbed at Chicago's Rosehill Cemetery. But that may soon change.
Powerball advice: What to do if you win
Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore, Fla. woman, found guilty of murder in death of state lottery winner
Urooj Khan, the 46-year-old owner of a local dry cleaning business, hit the jackpot last June, opting to take out a lump sum which amounted to $425,000 after taxes.
He received the big check on July 19 -- and then died the next day. But the check was cashed on August 15. When a winner dies, lottery officials say it's usual that the money goes to his family.
Cook County medical examiner Stephen Cina said the cause of death was listed as a hardening of the arteries, indicating a heart attack or stroke.
"The initial investigation didn't suggest anything suspicious about his death," Cina said. "No flags."
But then, a relative of the dead man placed a call to authorities and Cina's office was asked to look a little deeper into the case.
When they took another look at their toxicology analysis, they found lethal levels of the poison cyanide in Khan's blood.
"Even routine toxicological testing and even some more advanced toxicological testing is not going to detect cyanide so you really have to be looking specifically for cyanide," said Dr. Michael Levine, an expert in emergency medicine and toxicology at USC.
And that turned the case into a homicide investigation, with the obvious question being whether someone killed Khan for his money.
Cina said it's now highly likely that Khan's body will be exhumed from the cemetery for further examination, to see if the victim might have something to say -- from the grave.
To watch Dean Reynolds' full report, click on the video player above.
-
Dean Reynolds Dean Reynolds is a CBS News National Correspondent based in Chicago.
- School children among Okla. tornado casualties
- Couple hiding in bathtub saved by Okla. first responders
- Elementary schools packed with kids sat in tornado's path
- Oklahoma tornadoes: Is 2013 worse than 1999?
- Moore tornado: Sights and sounds of disaster, rescue
- Deadly second act: 1999 Moore tornado vs. 2013 storm
- Why can't Oklahoma residents build tornado shelters?
- Stories of survival: Victims on how they weathered Okla. twister
- Mother on reunion with son: I'm amazed he's alive
- Photographer on tornado: By far the most destructive
- Boston bombings suspect left note in boat he hid in
- Athlete-amputee becomes artificial limb inventor
- Tornado aftermath: "It's raining pieces of houses"
- Moore mayor: Six neighborhoods now "nothing but slabs"
- Mark Harmon: Humor and characters make "NCIS" a hit
- Could better weather tech predict tornadoes earlier?


















