Man Accused of Murdering Lottery Winner Escapes From Jail

Fitzgerald, GA -- One of the men accused of murdering a Georgia lottery winner has escaped from jail in south Georgia, authorities say.

Earnest Anthony Holcomb, 28, got out of a Ben Hill County jail at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Sheriff Bobby McLemore said Holcomb was in the exercise yard when he made it onto a roof and slipped out of his jailhouse jumpsuit before running away.

Holcomb is one of seven people charged in the January shooting death of Craigory Burch Jr. in Fitzgerald.

Burch, a forklift operator, had won a $434,272 Fantasy 5 jackpot in November.

Friends of Burch said that, during the holidays, he had spent part of his winnings buying Christmas gifts for area people in need.

Burch was shot to death in his own home, after reportedly pleading with his killers not to shoot him in front of his wife and children.

All of the suspects in the case, including Holcomb, are charged with malice murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Holcomb is 5-foot-9 and weighs about 150 pounds, McLemore said. Anyone with information about his location can call the Ben Hill County Sheriff's office or 911.