Lottery Winner Stabbed 15 Times by Stalker — Escapes by Playing Dead

What started as a lucky night ended in bloodshed for Oregon resident Jeffrey Williams, who won $2,000 at a Portland bar’s lottery machine last August — only to be followed home, brutally stabbed, and left for dead.

According to court documents, 62-year-old Pablo Figueroa stalked Williams after spotting his win on August 17, 2024. As Williams walked home around midnight, Figueroa silently tailed him, then slipped into his apartment building by catching the entrance door before it shut.

Once Williams opened the door to his unit, Figueroa forced his way in, tackled him, and demanded cash. Williams handed over $624, but that wasn’t enough. Figueroa pulled a knife and stabbed him 15 times — targeting his arms, chest, and face — while yelling for more money.

Williams later told police he began to black out and made a desperate decision: to play dead.

Miraculously, the attacker stopped. Believing his victim was dying, Figueroa sat down to watch — and eventually dozed off. That’s when Williams made his escape, quietly slipping out and calling 911.

When police arrived, they found the apartment empty. But surveillance footage revealed Figueroa had never exited the building. A search led them to a grim discovery — Figueroa was hiding in the trash room. He was flushed out with pepper spray and arrested.

A grand jury indicted him on a slew of charges, including attempted murder, assault, robbery, burglary, and strangulation. Ultimately, Figueroa was convicted on lesser charges — attempted robbery, burglary, and assault.

He is currently being held at Coffee Creek Correctional Institution while awaiting transfer to a state prison.

From a lottery win to a near-death experience, Williams’ terrifying ordeal is a chilling reminder of how fast fortune can turn into a fight for survival.