Brian Hagberg
BERKELEY COUNTY, SC – Authorities in South Carolina have captured Michael C. Burham, the man wanted in connection with a Jamestown homicide.
UPDATE, 5:58 p.m. May 24: The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that as of 5:30 p.m. Burham was in custody.
On Wednesday, at approximately 3:30 pm, Berkeley County dispatch received a 911 call regarding a subject on a citizen’s property, according to a release from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement responded to the scene and began to work off of that last reported sighting. Burham was taken into custody at approximately 5:17 pm.
“I am pleased that Burham was apprehended today. The Huger community can rest easy tonight knowing they are safe.” Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said in the release. “I am exceptionally proud of the work that was done by everyone involved, their perseverance is what led to the capture of this fugitive. Working together with our local, state and federal partners helped us reach our goal. A special thank you to the FBI, SLED, US Marshals, SC PPP, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, SC DNR, North Charleston Police Department, Summerville Police Department, City of Charleston Police Department and Mount Pleasant Police Department. I am also thankful to every citizen that called into dispatch with tips.”
Burham, 34 of Ashville, NY, has outstanding warrants for rape and arson in Jamestown, NY. Jamestown Police have been searching for Burham as a suspect in the May 11 homicide of Kala Hodgkin.
The search prompted lockouts at Youngsville Elementary and Youngsville Middle High Schools on May 11. The truck Burham was thought to be driving was found in the City of Warren later that day.
Burham kidnapped a Sheffield couple on May 20 and forced them to drive him to the North Charleston, SC area.
South Carolina and federal law enforcement agencies have been searching for Burham since that couple was found early Sunday morning and alerted authorities to Burham’s presence.
Berkeley County Sheriff’s deputies made contact with Burham Tuesday morning after a citizen called in a tip. Burham was able to evade capture until Wednesday evening.
