The True Crime Story of The Florida Lotto Murder

Winning the lottery can be a godsend to many. In a single instant it can wipe out financial worry, solve countless other problems, and lead to a worry-free life of possibility and adventure. For some, however, it can also be a burden. And for many, like Abraham Shakespeare of Florida, it can make them a target.

In 2006 Shakespeare purchased a single lotto ticket that would land him a jackpot of $30 million dollars. The winfall was certainly cause for celebration, and a generous man by nature, Shakespeare shared his newfound wealth liberally with friends and family. Shakespeare soon grew suspicious, however, and felt like he was being used, even taken advantage of for his money. It was then that a woman named Dee Dee Moore entered the picture.

Moore offered Shakespeare to help manage his assets, but she had sinister motives in mind. Before long, Moore managed to swindle Shakespeare into handing over control of all his assets. Some weeks passed, and Shakespeare’s family grew concerned. They hadn’t heard from Shakespeare for some time, and had attempted to reach him. In response, Moore forged a letter to Shakespeare’s family, assuring them that he was alright. What Moore didn’t know, however, is that Shakespeare was illiterate. The family contacted police, Shakespeare’s body was soon discovered buried on Moore’s property, and Moore was arrested and subsequently convicted of murder.

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The Surprising Origin of Mulholland Drive

It’s not often you’ll come across a list of the best movies of the 21st century that doesn’t have Mulholland Drive listed near the top. The 2001 David Lynch offering is neo-noir at its finest, and a psychological thriller than will burn itself into your memory immediately after viewing. It tells the story of an aspiring actress named Betty Elms, played by Naomi Watts, who befriends the victim of a car crash, played by Laura Harring, suffering from amnesia. Throughout the film we’re introduced to a few more characters, played by Justin Theroux, Mark Pellegrino, Robert Forster, and Ann Miller, in what would be her last role in a feature film.

Despite its critical acclaim, however, Mulholland Drive performed poorly at the US box office, grossing a mere $7 million against its $15 million budget. Worldwide revenue but the total up to $20 million, ensuring, at least, that Universal Pictures and BAC Films didn’t lose money on the project.

What may surprise fans about the feature, however, is that Lynch initially conceived Mulholland Drive as a television pilot, one that was intentionally left open ended for a potential series. Television executives rejected it, however, and so Lynch added an ending and turned the project into a feature film. We’re willing to bet some of those TV execs are still kicking themselves to this very day.

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Great Foreign Thrillers From Outside Of Scandinavia

Scandi Noir is one of the defining and most popular trends in literary history. But, don’t let that narrow your focus and leave you missing out on these great thrillers! Whilst it has undoubtedly produced some genre classics and some binge-worthy Netflix adaptations. There are plenty of other regions with thriving thriller scenes, each with their own distinctive style and take on the genre. These are some of our favorites from those countries.

River of Shadow by Valerio Varesi

Making use of a classic and enrapturing isolated rural setting, this atmospheric thriller really uses a sense of place and character to build its foundation. Centered around a dead and missing brother, whose fate seems to be tied to their time spent serving together in Italy’s fascist military. What unravels afterward encapsulates a half a century’s worth of political intrigue and tangled loyalties.

Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama

A rare thriller in that it’s the focus is set on a sprawling interrogation of the corrupt and unfair systemic issues that plague the Japanese system. It still has all the hallmarks of a genre classic, including far-reaching conspiracies, a long-buried investigation, and shocking twists at every turn.

Alex by Pierre Lemaitre

A revelation when it was released, and winner of the prestigious CWA International Dagger award for crime writing. This book set in Paris manages to be both a shocking and heart racing roller coaster of twists and turns also manages to cleverly subvert themes of gender, violence and deconstruct the conventions of the genre.

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