Attorney hints at defense strategy

Third suspect in Holt slaying surrenders

Web posted Tuesday, January 30, 2001

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By Johnny Edwards
Staff Writer

n a pre-arranged and pre-disclosed meeting, the third suspect in the 1998 killing of Sam's Club Manager David Holt surrendered to authorities Monday at the front door of the Richmond County Law Enforcement Center.

Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength (left) escorts Ronald Coleman Jr. into the law enforcement center. Mr. Coleman, a suspect in the slaying of David Holt, turned himself in Monday. JOHNNY EDWARDS/STAFF

It brought a peaceful end to an 11-day manhunt for Ronald Coleman Jr. - indicted for kidnapping, armed robbery, burglary, hijacking a motor vehicle and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Asked by a reporter if he was guilty, Mr. Coleman said he was not and that he turned himself in ``so I can get this straightened out.''

A crowd of well-wishers and media was waiting when Mr. Coleman, 28, drove up with his attorney, Michael B. King of Jonesboro, Ga. Wearing khaki pants and a dark shirt, Mr. Coleman joined hands with friends and family, including his mother, Brenda Coleman, as Gospel Cathedral minister Dolphus Bell II led a prayer.

Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength and lead Investigator Wayne Bunton waited until the end of the prayer to take Mr. Coleman into custody and lead him inside the law enforcement center. They did not place him in handcuffs in open view.

Mr. Coleman's attorney said he had filed a speedy trial demand earlier Monday in Richmond County Superior Court, so his client can ``get this matter resolved as quickly as possible.'' Mr. King said he was contacted Friday by Mr. Coleman, who has been in the Atlanta area since authorities began pursuing him.

Hinting at a possible defense strategy, Mr. King indicated that Mr. Colemen is a suspect in Mr. Holt's killing because of David Easterling, 30, who faces the same charges in addition to capital punishment in the shooting deaths of an Evans couple in 1998.

``I don't think that person's credible,'' Mr. King said. ``I think that person's trying to save himself from the death penalty.''

Sheriff Strength said he was telephoned by Mr. Coleman's attorney about an hour before he arrived at the jail. He said Mr. Coleman's capture might have been hindered by media attention, which began the same day the search for him began.

``We know for a fact that word got to him that we were looking for him,'' Sheriff Strength said. ``You can't run forever. I think he knew as well as we did that we were going to find him eventually.''

Mr. Coleman, Mr. Easterling and Carlston Coleman Jr., 30, are accused of taking part in the Father's Day 1998 abduction of Mr. Holt, 45, who was last seen walking to his car after setting the alarm at the Bobby Jones Expressway store. Investigators say he was abducted and forced to open the door and safe, then left to die in the trunk of a burning car in North Augusta.

The two Colemans, who are of no relation, also have been named by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as suspects in the deaths of Ryan Singh and Manuel Arroyo, whose charred bodies were found in the trunk of a burning car in Warren County in July 1997.

Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225 or johnny.edwards@augustachronicle.com.

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