The Rev. Andrew Grant answers questions from defense attorneys as Judge Bernard J. Mulherin Sr. presides. The Rev. Grant lives in Warren County, where the burned car was found. CHRIS THELEN/STAFF

''I turned to my wife and said someone had set another car on fire,'' the Rev. Grant testified Thursday in Richmond County Superior Court.

Seven months earlier, another stolen car had been found abandoned and burned on the rural dirt road, he and other witnesses testified Thursday. But when the volunteer firefighters opened the trunk of the burned car, the Rev. Grant reported at the time, they discovered the remains of Manuel B. Arroyo, 19, and Ryan J. Singh, 21.

The details about both vehicles are among allegations listed in a massive racketeering indictment against Ronald Coleman Jr., 29, Carlston W. Coleman, 30, Kendric Dudley, 30, Ronnie B. Overton Jr., 22, Charles D. Winters, 28, and Jarman L. Harold, 24.

Each of the men has pleaded innocent to the charge of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law. In addition, the two Mr. Colemans, who are not related, have pleaded innocent to charges of kidnapping, armed robbery, hijacking a motor vehicle, burglary and weapons charge in the June 21, 1998, robbery and abduction of Sam's Club Manager David Holt, 45.

According to the allegations in the indictment, Mr. Harold is accused of stealing Shawn L. Hill's Chevrolet Caprice in Augusta and taking it to Otis Jones Road on Dec. 26, 1996. The same day, Martel Reese, who lives about a quarter of a mile from where the car was left burning, found that his Buick LaSabre had been stolen, Mr. Reese testified.

All six men are accused of taking part in the events that allegedly led to the deaths of Mr. Arroyo and Mr. Singh on Otis Jones Road.

Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or shodson@augustachronicle.com.