14 DAY TRIAL // As a Chicago lottery winner is killed with cyanide, questions over disclosure of winners' names arise.
The case of Urooj Khan, reported on earlier today, is causing a bit of controversy on this matter. Khan had won $1 million (€762,660), of which he stood to collect $600,000 (€457,212) in one lump sum.
He was murdered by cyanide poisoning, one day before the check arrived at his house. Perhaps keeping winners' names a secret could have spared his life.
In November, I posted an article about Abraham Shakespeare’s death. The demise of a $30 million (€23 million) jackpot winner was allegedly caused by a woman who befriended and conned him out of his money, before taking his life.
In the US, most states not only disclose lottery winners names, but contractually obligate them to attend a press conference, as a marketing stunt to convince more people to buy tickets.
In Michigan, a bill for lottery jackpot winners to remain anonymous was proposed, in September. Sen. Tory Rocca argued that revealing the names only gives way to lawsuits, scams and violent attacks, according to Michigan Live.
Tell me what your take on the matter is, in the comment section below.