This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/08/illinois-lottery-winner-poisoned-chicago

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lottery winner poisoned by cyanide after $1m scratchcard win Lottery winner poisoned by cyanide after $1m scratchcard win
(3 months later)
An American man who won $1m (£620,000) on a lottery scratchcard was murdered with a lethal dose of cyanide, according to police in Chicago.An American man who won $1m (£620,000) on a lottery scratchcard was murdered with a lethal dose of cyanide, according to police in Chicago.
Urooj Khan, who owned a dry cleaning chain, purchased the winning scratchcard in June from a 7-Eleven convenience store. He was found dead a day after the winning cheque was posted to him.Urooj Khan, who owned a dry cleaning chain, purchased the winning scratchcard in June from a 7-Eleven convenience store. He was found dead a day after the winning cheque was posted to him.
With no signs of trauma and nothing to raise suspicions, Khan's sudden death – despite him being about to bank the first instalment of his prize – was initially ruled a result of natural causes.With no signs of trauma and nothing to raise suspicions, Khan's sudden death – despite him being about to bank the first instalment of his prize – was initially ruled a result of natural causes.
At the request of relatives, an expanded postmortem was performed that determined Khan, 46, died shortly after ingesting a lethal dose of cyanide. A murder investigation was launched.At the request of relatives, an expanded postmortem was performed that determined Khan, 46, died shortly after ingesting a lethal dose of cyanide. A murder investigation was launched.
Ashur Oshana, the store clerk, told AP that Khan had sworn off gambling after returning from the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage, in Saudi Arabia. Khan said he wanted to lead a better life, Oshana said, but he bought the state lottery tickets that day and scratched off the winner in the store.Ashur Oshana, the store clerk, told AP that Khan had sworn off gambling after returning from the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage, in Saudi Arabia. Khan said he wanted to lead a better life, Oshana said, but he bought the state lottery tickets that day and scratched off the winner in the store.
"Right away he grabbed my hand," Oshana said. "He kissed my hand and kissed my head and gave me $100. He was really happy.""Right away he grabbed my hand," Oshana said. "He kissed my hand and kissed my head and gave me $100. He was really happy."
Khan, from West Rogers Park, recalled days later at an Illinois Lottery ceremony in which he was presented with a cheque that he jumped up and down in the store, repeatedly shouting "I hit a million!"Khan, from West Rogers Park, recalled days later at an Illinois Lottery ceremony in which he was presented with a cheque that he jumped up and down in the store, repeatedly shouting "I hit a million!"
"Winning the lottery means everything to me," he said at the ceremony on 26 June, which was also attended by his wife, Shabana Ansari, their daughter, Jasmeen, and several friends. He said he would put some of his winnings into his businesses and donate some to a children's hospital."Winning the lottery means everything to me," he said at the ceremony on 26 June, which was also attended by his wife, Shabana Ansari, their daughter, Jasmeen, and several friends. He said he would put some of his winnings into his businesses and donate some to a children's hospital.
The cheque was issued on 19 July, the day before Khan died, but was cashed on 15 August. If a lottery winner dies, the money typically goes to his or her estate, the lottery office said.The cheque was issued on 19 July, the day before Khan died, but was cashed on 15 August. If a lottery winner dies, the money typically goes to his or her estate, the lottery office said.
"It's pretty unusual," said Cook County medical examiner Stephen Cina of cyanide poisoning. "I've had one, maybe two cases out of 4,500 autopsies I've done.""It's pretty unusual," said Cook County medical examiner Stephen Cina of cyanide poisoning. "I've had one, maybe two cases out of 4,500 autopsies I've done."
No signs of trauma were found on Khan's body during an external exam and no autopsy was done because, at the time, the Cook County medical examiner's office did not routinely perform them on people aged 45 and older unless the death was suspicious, Cina said. The cut-off age has since been raised to 50.No signs of trauma were found on Khan's body during an external exam and no autopsy was done because, at the time, the Cook County medical examiner's office did not routinely perform them on people aged 45 and older unless the death was suspicious, Cina said. The cut-off age has since been raised to 50.
At the time a basic toxicology screening for opiates, cocaine and carbon monoxide came back negative, and Khan's death was ruled a result of the narrowing and hardening of coronary arteries.At the time a basic toxicology screening for opiates, cocaine and carbon monoxide came back negative, and Khan's death was ruled a result of the narrowing and hardening of coronary arteries.
A relative came forward days after the initial cause of death was released and asked authorities to look into the case further, Cina said, but he refused to identify the relative. He added that investigators will likely exhume the body.A relative came forward days after the initial cause of death was released and asked authorities to look into the case further, Cina said, but he refused to identify the relative. He added that investigators will likely exhume the body.
Deborah Blum, an expert on poisons who has written about the detectives who pioneered forensic toxicology, said the use of cyanide in killings has become rare in part because it is difficult to obtain and normally easy to detect, often leaving blue splotches on a victim's skin.Deborah Blum, an expert on poisons who has written about the detectives who pioneered forensic toxicology, said the use of cyanide in killings has become rare in part because it is difficult to obtain and normally easy to detect, often leaving blue splotches on a victim's skin.
"The thing about it is that it's not one of those poisons that's tasteless," Blum said. "It has a really strong, bitter taste, so you would know you had swallowed something bad if you had swallowed cyanide. But if you had a high enough dose it wouldn't matter, because … a good lethal does will take you out in less than five minutes.""The thing about it is that it's not one of those poisons that's tasteless," Blum said. "It has a really strong, bitter taste, so you would know you had swallowed something bad if you had swallowed cyanide. But if you had a high enough dose it wouldn't matter, because … a good lethal does will take you out in less than five minutes."
Only a small amount of fine, white cyanide powder can be deadly, she said, as it disrupts the ability of cells to transport oxygen around the body, causing a convulsive, violent death.Only a small amount of fine, white cyanide powder can be deadly, she said, as it disrupts the ability of cells to transport oxygen around the body, causing a convulsive, violent death.
"It essentially kills you in this explosion of cell death," she said. "You feel like you're suffocating.""It essentially kills you in this explosion of cell death," she said. "You feel like you're suffocating."
Chicago police department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton confirmed the department was now investigating the death and said detectives were working closely with the medical examiner's office.Chicago police department spokeswoman Melissa Stratton confirmed the department was now investigating the death and said detectives were working closely with the medical examiner's office.
guardian.co.uk today is our daily snapshot of the top news stories, sent to your inbox at 8am