7 Charged in Murder of Lottery Winner Who Begged for His Life

FITZGERALD, GA – Seven people planning to steal the nearly half-million dollars a Georgia forklift operator won in a lottery game have been charged with gunning him down as he begged for his life, authorities said.

Police in Fitzgerald, a south Georgia town about 60 miles east of Albany, say Craigory Burch Jr., 20, died Jan. 21 of gunshot wounds he suffered in his own home, according to WALB-TV.

Burch had won a $434,272 Fantasy 5 jackpot in November 2015.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation officers told WALB that Burch’s girlfriend, Jasmine Hendricks, was at home at the time of the attack and ran for help.

She told investigators Burch begged the armed men to take his bank card and leave after they burst into the house.

"When they came in, he said, 'Don't do it, bro. Don't do it in front of my kids,'" Hendricks said, reports WALB. "'Please don't do it in front of my kids and old lady. Please don't do that, bro. Please don't.'"

The robbers reportedly couldn't find Burch’s wallet in the pants, so they fatally shot him and left.

Six of the seven charged in Burch’s death were identified Monday as Rosalyn Swain, 22; Keyana Dyous, 24; Anjavell Johnson, 21; Earnest Holcombe, 27; Dabrentise Overstreet, 19; and Nathaniel Baker, 28. A seventh suspect, who is 17 years old, was not identified because he is a juvenile.

Ben Hill County authorities say all seven suspects face charges of malice murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

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

“I couldn’t believe it at first. I was stunned,” Burch said after cashing in his winning ticket in early December. “I’m still overwhelmed.”

Ben Hill Sheriff Bobby McLemore told reporters Monday that more arrests were coming in the case, FOX News reports.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office at 229-426-5161.

Photo: Georgia Lottery photo of Craigory Burch Jr.