The lead investigator in the Holt case also knew the double-homicide suspects included Carlston W. Coleman, whose name quickly surfaced in the Holt case, Sgt. Bunton said in Richmond County Superior Court.

Prosecution witnesses are expected to present evidence on the final criminal allegations in the RICO indictment that accuses Ronald Coleman of possessing forged and stolen documents on two occasions in October 1998.

As the prosecution's final witness concerning the June 21, 1998, robbery of the Sam's Club and abduction of its manager, Mr. Holt, the detective described for the jury what he and investigators from four agencies did after the discovery of Mr. Holt's body.

Only Mr. Coleman, 30, and Ronald Coleman Jr., 29, face charges in the Holt case. Both have pleaded innocent. They and four other men - Kendric Dudley, 30; Ronnie B. Overton Jr., 22; Charles Winters, 28; and Jarman Harold, 25 - have pleaded innocent to a charge of violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law.

In the RICO charge, the men are accused of serving various roles in a series of crimes, including crimes in Augusta that prosecutors contend led up to the July 23, 1997, killings of Mr. Arroyo, 19, and Mr. Singh, 21, in Warren County.

Sgt. Bunton testified Thursday that he learned about the double homicide through Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Steve Foster because the victims and the men the agent suspected lived in Augusta.

Carlston Coleman's name surfaced in the Holt case when Sam's Club management was asked to list anyone suspected of thefts at the store, Sgt. Bunton testified. He learned a manager had received an anonymous call saying cashier Laverne Ellis and Mr. Coleman were removing a large amount of merchandise from the store, Sgt. Bunton testified. Shortly after that, a witness placed Mr. Coleman at Sam's Club at closing time the night before Mr. Holt was abducted, the detective said.

It wasn't until David J. Easterling, 30, implicated himself in the case and named others, however, that an indictment was sought, in January 2001.

Mr. Easterling is serving two consecutive life sentences for kidnapping in the Holt case, and for two murders - the February 1998 slayings of Fred and Yong-Suk Walker in Columbia County.

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