A manhunt is underway for Michael Charles Burham, an inmate suspected of several crimes, including murder, after he escaped from a Pennsylvania jail using tied bed sheets. Officials have issued warnings that Burham is “very dangerous” and should not be approached.
Burham, 34, was discovered missing from the recreation area of Warren County Jail on Friday morning. According to Cecile Stelter, a spokesperson for Warren County, he used a piece of exercise equipment to elevate himself and then exited the yard through a metal gated roof. He descended to the ground by tying together bed sheets.
Staff realized Burham was missing shortly after his escape, as he was under video surveillance while in the recreation area. Stelter emphasized that Burham is considered dangerous based on his past actions and urged the public not to approach him but to report any unusual sightings to 911.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police stated that it is highly possible Burham is armed and advised against approaching him if spotted. Authorities in Warren have expanded the search beyond the city, as Burham is believed to possess survivalist skills and is comfortable living in wooded areas.
During the investigation, authorities discovered stockpiles of supplies at campsites that they suspect belong to Burham, but specific details were not disclosed. The police asked residents to review their security cameras for potential sightings of Burham, who was wearing a jail-issued blue denim coat, white and orange pants, and orange shoes at the time of his escape. Bivens mentioned the possibility that Burham may have changed clothes and noted that they believe he has previously prepared to hide in the woods.
Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are involved in the ongoing manhunt. The U.S. Marshals are offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to Burham’s capture, while the Warren County Crime Stoppers are offering $2,000.
Burham had been held at the Warren County Jail, located approximately 11 miles from the southwest New York border, in connection with a burglary and arson case. Additionally, he is accused of kidnapping a Warren County couple and is a suspect in the murder of Kala Hodgkin, a resident of Jamestown, New York, on May 11. A federal criminal complaint reveals that Hodgkin was found fatally shot at her home, and at the time, Burham had an active arrest warrant for the alleged rape of the victim.
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During the manhunt, Burham evaded capture across multiple states until his arrest on May 24 in South Carolina. Authorities allege that he kidnapped a couple at gunpoint from their Sheffield, Pennsylvania home and was later found with them in a cemetery in North Charleston, South Carolina. A note purportedly written by Burham, apologizing to his father for the family’s troubles and stating that he was “safe for now,” was discovered in their vehicle, according to the complaint.