Ellis SPECIAL

Laverne Ellis, 28, was taken into custody within hours of Ronnie Overton, 21, and Charles Winters, 27, who face the same charge.

The three are known associates of two defendants in Mr. Holt's slaying, Ronald Coleman Jr., 29, and Carlston Coleman Jr., 30, according to Richmond County sheriff's Investigator Sgt. Wayne Bunton.

``At this time, their charges do not directly involve the Holt crime,'' the sergeant said.

Police and court authorities remained mum about the broadening probe Friday, citing a need to remain silent until a Superior Court judge unseals a grand jury indictment handed down Tuesday. Information about Ms. Ellis' work at Sam's Club was one of a few sparse details to emerge.

The date of Mr. Holt's death, June 21, 1998, falls during her employment dates, provided by an assistant manager at the nearby Wal-Mart store with access to company records. Ms. Ellis worked at Sam's from May 1997 to October 1998.

Overton SPECIAL

Company spokeswoman Melissa Berryhill said she could not access records about her position and reason for leaving late Friday.

At the time of her arrest, Ms. Ellis worked at Just For Feet shoe store on Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway. According to Richmond County court records, she spent three years on probation after a 1996 indictment for shoplifting, which occurred at a Rich's store.

Mr. Overton, who jail records say is a construction worker with ``scarred for life'' tattooed on his right arm and a Hebrew symbol on his right forearm, also has been through the local justice system. Records show he was arrested for three counts of aggravated assault and a weapons charge in September 1999. These charges stemmed from an incident in which three men in a car were fired on. One was hit in the arm and leg.

The case was dismissed in June because a victim wouldn't cooperate, according to court documents.

Winters SPECIAL

The two Colemans, who authorities say are not related, and David Easterling, 30, face charges of kidnapping and armed robbery in connection to the killing of Mr. Holt, a father of two who had been working for Sam's Club since 1992.

Investigators say he was accosted on his way home from work, taken back to the store, and forced to open the door and safe. Afterward, investigators say, assailants drove him across the Savannah River, locked him in his trunk, set the car on fire and left him to burn to death.

Mr. Easterling has already accepted a plea bargain to avoid the death penalty in a separate case.

Mr. Easterling also admitted to a role in the 1998 slayings of Frederick and Yong-Suk Walker in Evans. Also charged in that crime are Jimmy Lee Rhodes, 44, and Dag L. Rhodes, 23.

Staff Writer Sandy Hodson contributed to this article.

Reach Johnny Edwards at (706) 823-3225.