The “Cursed Lottery Ticket Murder” – Winner Killed by Numbers Matching a Grave
Winning the lottery is often a dream come true. But for one man from Bulacan, the lucky numbers that promised fortune became a curse written in stone. His story would be remembered as “The Cursed Lottery Ticket Murder”—a haunting tale that blurred the line between chance, superstition, and murder.
The Strange Winning Numbers
In late 2019, local newspapers reported a small-town factory worker named Eduardo “Ed” Lacsamana, 42, who won a provincial lottery jackpot worth ₱12 million. His ticket—6, 11, 18, 24, 33, 42—caught national attention not only for the win but for its eerie origin.
Ed reportedly got the numbers after visiting his late grandmother’s grave. While cleaning the tomb, he noticed a faint engraving of numbers on the marble base—believed to be from an old burial record that once belonged to another family. Amused, he copied them down, saying, “Baka ito ang magpabago ng buhay ko.” (“Maybe this will change my life.”)
A week later, the numbers hit.
The Celebration Turned Dark
After claiming his prize, Ed celebrated with friends and relatives. He donated to his local chapel, bought a used SUV, and promised to start a small hardware business. But only three days after receiving the check, his fortune turned fatal.
Neighbors found him lifeless inside his home, with no signs of forced entry. His body showed blunt trauma to the head, and investigators noticed something chilling—his winning ticket was missing. On his table lay a crumpled paper with the words, “Numbers from the grave should stay in the grave.”
The news quickly spread, and the story became known across social media as the Cursed Lottery Ticket Murder.
Police Investigation
Bulacan police initially treated the case as a robbery-homicide, but the lack of stolen valuables puzzled them. The SUV, cash, and electronics remained untouched. Only the winning ticket—and the note—were missing.
Forensic reports indicated that the murder occurred between 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., around the same time Ed’s neighbors heard the sound of a woman weeping near his gate. However, security footage revealed no one entering or leaving.
The case deepened when investigators traced the original grave numbers to a family tomb in Meycauayan, belonging to the De Guzman family. Records showed that the person buried there—Lucia De Guzman—died in 1977, exactly 42 years before Ed’s win. The number “42,” one of his winning digits, seemed to mirror the gap in years.
The Curse Theory
Locals began to whisper that Ed had awakened a curse. According to folklore, the De Guzman tomb was part of a cluster of graves known as “Campo ng mga Nawawala” (Field of the Lost), where unclaimed bodies were buried alongside the poor. Superstition warned that disturbing such graves or taking anything “borrowed” from them would invite misfortune.
An old gravedigger told reporters that the marble slab had indeed been replaced years ago after an incident involving a previous worker who also “borrowed” something—a rusted necklace—which allegedly led to his death days later.
Psychics and faith healers in nearby towns soon claimed Ed’s death was “payment to the dead”—a spiritual debt for using the numbers belonging to someone buried long ago.
The Rational Explanation
While the public indulged the curse narrative, police followed a more grounded lead. They discovered that Ed had an ongoing dispute with a co-worker over a shared betting syndicate. The colleague, identified as Mario R., reportedly claimed that he and Ed agreed to split any winnings from tickets bought together.
When Ed’s win was announced, Mario was nowhere to be found. Investigators later arrested him in Pampanga after a brief chase. He confessed to confronting Ed over the prize but denied killing him. He said they argued, and Ed “fell” after being pushed. However, inconsistencies in his story led police to file a homicide charge.
Even with the arrest, locals continued to insist that the curse played its part. As one elder put it, “If you win with numbers from the dead, don’t expect to enjoy it long.”
The Numbers That Wouldn’t Die
What made the case even creepier was what happened months later. During a community draw in Bulacan, the same combination—6, 11, 18, 24, 33, 42—was drawn again. Though no one won that time, it reignited public fascination.
People visited the De Guzman tomb, leaving coins and candles as if appeasing unseen forces. Some even used the same combination, hoping to reverse the curse and “redeem the luck.”
Local priests warned against it, calling it superstition bordering on obsession. Still, copies of the “cursed combination” were sold in online forums and Facebook groups discussing “paranormal numbers.”
Folklore Meets Reality
The “Cursed Lottery Ticket Murder” became part of Philippine urban legend lore, joining tales like the “White Lady of Balete Drive” and the “Crying Boy Painting.” It reflects how deeply Filipinos intertwine faith, fear, and luck.
Superstition around lottery numbers is nothing new. Many believe certain combinations—birthdays, anniversaries, or numbers linked to the dead—carry spiritual energy. But this story pushed that belief into the realm of terror.
It’s a reminder that while luck might favor the bold, sometimes, it’s better not to gamble with the unknown.
Cultural Reactions and Media Frenzy
Social media exploded with theories. Some believed the curse was real; others argued it was a convenient cover for a cold-blooded murder. Hashtags like #CursedTicket and #NumbersFromTheGrave trended for days.
Local TV stations recreated dramatizations, and paranormal vloggers visited the cemetery where the “numbers were born.” One popular YouTuber claimed his recording device malfunctioned near the tomb, while another swore he heard whispers on playback.
Tourists curious about the case began visiting Bulacan’s cemeteries, some mixing their trip with nearby nature or travel destinations. (If you’re interested in exploring the region responsibly, you can start with this guide: “Discover the hidden gems of the province—Cebu Beach island-hopping details here.”)
Lessons from the Case
Whether it was a crime of greed or a curse from beyond, the Cursed Lottery Ticket Murder reminds us of three things:
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Money can attract both opportunity and danger. Sudden wealth often exposes people to envy, conflict, and crime.
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Superstition has deep roots. In cultures like the Philippines, luck and faith often share the same ground as fear.
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Technology and folklore now coexist. Stories like this thrive in the digital age, where myths can spread faster than facts.
A Final Word
The death of Eduardo Lacsamana remains one of the most haunting lottery stories in the country. Whether he was a victim of greed, guilt, or something supernatural, his tale continues to captivate people years later.
The numbers he chose—etched in stone and sealed by fate—became a warning to those who seek fortune without understanding where luck truly comes from.
Perhaps, in some strange way, the grave kept its promise: those who borrow from the dead must always pay them back.
