Deborah Roberts

Hi there, everybody. Welcome to 2020 The After Show. I'm Deborah Roberts, and boy, we've got a great episode for you today because have you ever just thought, wow, wouldn't life be great if I won the lottery? You might think twice after hearing about our most recent 2020 story about Abraham Shakespeare, the Florida lottery winner who was tragically murdered for his winnings.

Joining me to talk about this is the fabulous Matt Gutman, our chief national correspondent here at ABC News, who reported Friday night's 2020 episode. Hi, Matt.

Joining me to talk about this is the fabulous Matt Gutman, our chief national correspondent here at ABC News, who reported Friday night's 2020 episode. Hi, Matt.

I'm good. Welcome. Welcome. Before we jump into this, I mean, first of all, so many people know you for just crisscrossing not just the country, but the world. I mean, from the wildfires in California, you're in the Middle East a lot reporting over there. Give us a sense of what it's like as you are. I mean, I thought I was busy. But man.

I'm good. Welcome. Welcome. Before we jump into this, I mean, first of all, so many people know you for just crisscrossing not just the country, but the world. I mean, from the wildfires in California, you're in the Middle East a lot reporting over there. Give us a sense of what it's like as you are. I mean, I thought I was busy. But man.

Thank you so much for having me. And he started giving back, as many people say they would love to do if they got this kind of money. But after a while, friends started to notice that he just seemed to feel burdened. You know, everybody had their hands out wanting some of his money. And then three years after the lottery success happened. He mysteriously disappears.

Thank you so much for having me. And he started giving back, as many people say they would love to do if they got this kind of money. But after a while, friends started to notice that he just seemed to feel burdened. You know, everybody had their hands out wanting some of his money. And then three years after the lottery success happened. He mysteriously disappears.

And everybody is talking about this case and what happened. And, of course, police go undercover to try to figure out what happened. So before you and I get deeper into it, let's take a listen to some of the moments from your reporting, including some of the folks who are closest to him and everything in the aftermath of the winning ticket.

And everybody is talking about this case and what happened. And, of course, police go undercover to try to figure out what happened. So before you and I get deeper into it, let's take a listen to some of the moments from your reporting, including some of the folks who are closest to him and everything in the aftermath of the winning ticket.

Folks who are in his orbit. I mean, Matt, this is just unbelievable when you think about all of this. As you said, you almost can't make this stuff up. And I know Lakeland, Florida, a little bit. I reported in Florida over the years and spent some time. Give us a sense of what somebody in that area would be dealing with. I mean, it's a small town. Everybody knows you. I mean, what was that like?

Folks who are in his orbit. I mean, Matt, this is just unbelievable when you think about all of this. As you said, you almost can't make this stuff up. And I know Lakeland, Florida, a little bit. I reported in Florida over the years and spent some time. Give us a sense of what somebody in that area would be dealing with. I mean, it's a small town. Everybody knows you. I mean, what was that like?

What were your impressions of the town and what Abraham was facing?

What were your impressions of the town and what Abraham was facing?

Yeah. And so many of us, of course, as reporters have reported on stories either kind of adjacent to this. When you talk about in the piece, the curse of the lottery, it's kind of that trope, that idea that, yeah, everybody would love to win millions of dollars, but it can just sort of ruin your life. And in this case, it was devastating. Within three years, all of a sudden, this guy is missing.

Yeah. And so many of us, of course, as reporters have reported on stories either kind of adjacent to this. When you talk about in the piece, the curse of the lottery, it's kind of that trope, that idea that, yeah, everybody would love to win millions of dollars, but it can just sort of ruin your life. And in this case, it was devastating. Within three years, all of a sudden, this guy is missing.

That he just decided to step away from it all.

That he just decided to step away from it all.

And that was one of the twists and turns in this story, too, because for months he's gone and their text and D.D. is, of course, sort of setting these up. We're going to take a quick break. And, Matt, we're going to talk about your thrilling sit down interview with that convicted killer of Abraham Shakespeare. Stay with us. This episode is sponsored by the podcast Death County PA from Wondery.

And that was one of the twists and turns in this story, too, because for months he's gone and their text and D.D. is, of course, sort of setting these up. We're going to take a quick break. And, Matt, we're going to talk about your thrilling sit down interview with that convicted killer of Abraham Shakespeare. Stay with us. This episode is sponsored by the podcast Death County PA from Wondery.

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