Brian Hagberg
WARREN, Pa. – Pennsylvania State Police have taken the lead in the hunt for Michael Burham as the search area expands beyond the City of Warren.
According to releases from both PSP-Warren and the City of Warren Police on Saturday, July 8, PSP has “assumed command of the manhunt for Michael Charles Burham.”
“Federal, state, and local agencies are continuing the search for Burham as his whereabouts are unknown,” City Police said in a release. “The search area has expanded well beyond the City. The Pennsylvania State Police have assumed incident command due to geographical jurisdictions and resources as the search expands throughout the county and into areas of NY.”
Burham, 34 of Ashville, New York, was still at large as of 10 a.m. Saturday. Burham was last seen at approximately 11:20 p.m. Thursday, July 6, wearing a blue denim jacket with white lettering on the back that reads “Warren County Jail,” as well as orange and white striped pants.
“Anyone who observes Burham is asked to contact 911 immediately and do not approach Burham as he is considered very dangerous,” PSP said in a release.
Local, state, and federal authorities were focused on a Water Street residence for more than six hours Friday night and into Saturday morning but did not locate Burham.
Pennsylvania State Police officials confirmed to Your Daily Local just after 3 a.m. Saturday that Burham was not located at the residence in question upon entry.
“We’re continuing to follow leads,” PSP officials said.
“At this time, we are asking residents to check their own cameras and doorbell cameras during that time frame (11:30 p.m. Thursday night to 12:30 a.m. Friday morning) and if they see something suspicious, call 716-483-8477 (Jamestown Police Department tip line),” said Public Information Officer Cecile Stetler during Friday’s 5 p.m. press conference at the Warren County Courthouse.
“Leave a message and someone will return your call. We would also like to extend that to people who have trail cams out in the woods, to check those as well.”
Escape charges were filed against Burham with District Judge Raymond Zydonik on Friday afternoon.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, video surveillance footage showed Burham walking in and out of his jail cell in Block B, with other inmates also observed walking around the yard.
“At approximately 11:26 p.m., the defendant (Burham) was observed standing on a pull-up machine. The defendant then exited the yard through a metal gated roof. After escaping from the yard, the defendant tied a rope which consisted of multiple sheets tied together. The defendant then tied said rope from the roof and allowed it to hang on to a portico. The defendant slid down the rope, landing on the portico, and jumped from the portico to the ground. He then took off on foot.”
Burham, who is the primary suspect in the May 11 shooting death of Kala Hodgkin, which occurred at her residence on William St. in Jamestown, was being held in Warren County after being arraigned on kidnapping charges stemming from the original search for him in May.
The former Chautauqua County resident is also accused of setting fire to another woman’s car in Jamestown after the May 11 shooting incident.
Just over a week later, Burham allegedly kidnapped a Sheffield couple from their home at gunpoint and used their vehicle to drive to South Carolina.
According to the affidavit of probable cause for the kidnapping and related charges, a family member reported Jessica and David Anundson missing to PSP-Warren at approximately 10:45 p.m. Saturday, May 20. The pair was supposed to attend their granddaughter’s soccer game at noon and failed to appear.
The couple was found safe and Burham was captured and extradited to New York before being transferred to the Warren County jail, where he was arraigned by District Judge Raymond Zydonik on kidnapping charges on June 19.
Anyone with non-emergency information can contact police at the following numbers:
Warren PD non-emergency 814-723-2700
Warren County Communications 814-563-3500
PSP-Warren 814-728-3600
