House taken from woman convicted of killing lottery-winning owner

BARTOW, Fla., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A Florida judge ordered that a $1 million house be taken from a woman convicted of killing the lottery-winning owner after getting control of his estate.

Circuit Judge J. Dale Durrance ruled there was no evidence Dorice "DeeDee" Moore ever paid Abraham Shakespeare for his house in Lakeland, The Ledger reported Thursday.

The judge ordered that the property, and other assets, be returned to Shakespear's estate.

Shakespeare bought the house in 2007 after he won $17 million in the Florida lottery. He disappeared in April 2009 and his body was found buried under a concrete slab in Moore's backyard in January 2010. Police said he had been shot twice in the head.

Prosecutors contended during Moore's trial that she killed him after gaining control of his wealth, including his house. She was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Lakeland lawyer Stephen Martin has been working to reclaim Shakespeare's assets on behalf of the man's two sons. He said he expects to sell the house.