Fitzgerald, Georgia: Seven Suspects Have Been Arrested In The Murder Of Lottery Winner Craigory Burch


Seven suspects have been apprehended and charged in the murder of Georgia lottery winner Craigory Burch. Armed robbers entered Burch’s home a little more than two months ago in a failed robbery attempt. When they found that Burch did not have cash on the premises, they shot the 20-year-old in cold blood in front of his children. The former forklift driver had matched all five numbers in the November 29, 2015 Fantasy 5 drawing which garnered him a jackpot of $434,272. Burch was a resident of Fitzgerald, Georgia.

WALB News has identified all seven of the suspects, which include five men and two women. Six are being held in the Ben Hill County jail. One is in custody in Colquitt County. The suspects are as follows:

  1. Rosalyn Swain, 22, of Fitzgerald, Georgia
  2. Keyona Dyous, 24, of Moultrie, Georgia
  3. Anjavell Johnson, 21, of Tifton, Georgia
  4. Nathaniel Baker, 28, of Moultrie, Georgia
  5. Earnest Holcomb, 27, of Fitzgerald, Georgia
  6. Wayan Jordan, 17, of Fitzgerald, Georgia (Jordan will be tried as an adult in the crime)
  7. Dabrentis Overstreet, 19, of Tifton, Georgia

All of the suspects have been charged with possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, aggravated assault, malice murder, and armed robbery. Charges were filed on Monday.

According to Fox 6 Now, Burch’s girlfriend, Jasmine Hendricks, was present at the time of the murder. Hendricks told police that, after using a shotgun to blow the door open, three masked, armed men entered the home on Stubbs Avenue late in the evening on January 20. She said that she was certain that the intruders were after Burch’s lottery winnings.

Hendricks went on to say that she and Burch had been receiving constant phone calls and text messages warning them that there were people who were planning to rob him after he won the lottery.

She described what happened after the robbers were inside the house to WALB. The victim begged for his life.

“When they came in, he said, ‘Don’t do it bro. Don’t do it in front of my kids.’ He said, ‘Please don’t do it in front of my kids and my old lady. Please don’t do that bro. Please don’t.’ He said, ‘I’ll give you my bank card.'”

At that point, Burch threw his pants at the armed men. When they discovered that his wallet was not in his pants they shot him multiple times and then fled the scene. The lottery winner died at the scene.

Hendricks ran to get assistance after witnessing the shooting.

Prior to the incident Burch had used some of his lottery winnings to purchase Christmas gifts for the needy. His family and friends remember him as a young man with a kind and loving heart. Prior to his death he was employed as a forklift operator.

The District Attorney’s office has not yet released specific details of how each suspect participated in the crime. The investigation continues to be ongoing.

Burch’s murder sparked passionate debate on social media as to whether or not lottery winners should be allowed to maintain anonymity.

Craigory’s mother, Leslie Collins, is thankful that the suspects are in custody and is looking for justice for her son’s murder.

“I want them to know what they took from me. They took a part of my life away from me. My child that I carried and raised for 20 years.”

Ben Hill County Sheriff Bobby McLemore told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that more arrests are expected. He added that evidence indicated that the attack was targeted and was not a random incident.

Burch was the loving father of three children.

[Image via Shutterstock]

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