🔍 True crime fans: Your help is needed in gathering information for a new docuseries to premiere from Jupiter Entertainment about victim Abraham Shakespeare – a $30 million lottery jackpot winner from Lakeland.
Abraham’s story: After winning the lottery in 2006, local Abraham Shakespeare chose to receive his winnings in one sum of $17 million + shared it with other Polk County residents, buying houses and cars for friends in the community.
During this time, he connected with Dorice ‘Dee Dee’ Moore, starting a business together, giving her full control of his newfound funds. Not long after, Abraham was declared missing by family members, and through an interesting cycle of events (which made international headlines), Dee Dee was convicted of first-degree murder for the killing of Abraham and was sentenced to life in prison.
A Reddit post recently posed this question, asking for help in gathering information on local long-standing LAL businesses, eclectic residents, or things that embody Lakeland that residents feel should be featured in the series.
The difficulties faced in the crime have been a topic of interest for several television series already, such as American E! television programs ‘Curse of the Lottery’ + ‘Lottery Changed My Life.’
According to their site, Jupiter Entertainment has worked on projects like Snapped, American Murder Mystery, Homicide Hunters + more.
Here are what some of the suggestions in the comments thread already include: (FYI, responses have been edited for brevity + clarity.)
- “I would recommend Lloyd’s of Lakeland downtown and ask for Steve. He’s a hilarious person who has lived here forever. And Bethel Baptist Church is close to where Abraham lived.
- “The oldest businesses that I can think of are Polk Theater, YMCA, Explorations V Children’s Museum, Ace Hardware (used to be called Crowder Bros), Publix, Palace Pizza, Florida Dance Theatre, Southside Cleaners, Polk Museum of Art, and Hollis Garden. The Lakeland Public Library and the Polk County Historical Society may also be helpful.”
- “I’ve grown up in Polk County but only lived a few years in Lakeland. That said I’ve always known Lakeland as the city of swans. Lake Morton and Lake Mirror have beautiful swans and other waterfowl all over it. They are right next to downtown. Might be good spots for visual scenery and maybe to conduct outside interviews?”
Know of relevant Lakeland information you think could help or should be showcased?
You can email Jupiter Entertainment here.
