Authorities to exhume body of poisoned lotto winner

This transcript is automatically generated

We'll just days after a man won a multi million dollar lottery jackpot or scratch offered -- a million I'll -- off actually.

He dropped -- of cyanide poisoning that's the word from investigators.

Here's the victim he won the big prize last year from Illinois lottery scratch off ticket any selected -- lump sum option taking home nearly half million bucks after taxes.

The medical examiner first -- -- man died of a heart condition no problem here.

But days later relatives -- life could you dig a little deeper on this investigators soon found deadly levels of cyanide in his system.

They've ruled his death a homicide the medical examiner says -- team would resume the body or -- it up.

Sometime the next couple weeks to search for more clues -- -- now the chief medical examiner.

For Cook County Illinois conducting the investigation doctor Steven -- sir good good have you seen a surrogate of his thank you.

Well thank you and I thought to be here patty find cyanide in -- -- -- guys that hard.

Well I mean now fighting cyanide.

Is it difficult if you look forward unfortunately.

-- toxicology lab is you know capable of detecting a wide array of drugs and toxins including cyanide so.

-- when it -- -- the blood that was a bit of a surprise yes.

If we do the exclamation we can look at additional issues depending on the condition the body and -- -- more information.

How did it happened if you would let our viewers know that.

That that someone who -- somebody go to would have the process go.

Well initially this 46 year old gentleman that died on July 20.

And the report that -- this received was that.

This man was found -- -- at home he was brought to an emergency room and pronounced dead and that was about the extent of our information.

Obvious on that and in accordance with the office protocols of the time.

Our medical examiner examine the body -- carefully for injuries side through fluids for basic toxicological analysis.

And then now released the case and find that out as Arturo sporadic cardiovascular disease -- which covers many of the talk common natural -- causes of sudden death heart attacks strokes.

How things of that nature the basic toxicology was negative for but several days later a family member contacted the doctor in the case.

And I asked us to dig a little deeper like you said.

And the world is very responsive to our new information so comprehensive toxicology was ordered.

Even to the point of ordering from the esoteric such -- cyanide.

And in this case it paid off.

So either the guys celebrated his half million dollar lottery winnings by downing some cyanide.

Or somebody murdered him maybe somebody who might have had access to the money once he's Six Feet Under.

Maybe.

Well maybe you know views -- matters left to the state attorney and the police to investigate but.

-- theoretically both those would be possibilities yeah they're possibilities.

Sir it's great to see you don't -- to thank you.

Let's talk -- -- all right.

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Authorities to exhume body of poisoned lotto winner

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