A murder suspect from New York, Michael Burham, who penned a note expressing his lack of remorse, has managed to escape from a Pennsylvania jail, where he was awaiting extradition. This incident has set off an extensive manhunt spanning from western New York to South Carolina.
The 34-year-old Burham stands accused of fatally shooting Kala Hodgkin, a resident of Jamestown, New York, before embarking on a series of criminal activities that involved arson and the abduction of a couple at gunpoint from their Pennsylvania home.
Authorities have provided a description of the escapee, noting his tattoos on the left forearm and right bicep. The last sighting of Burham occurred at around 11:20 p.m. on Thursday in Warren County, Pennsylvania.
Residents in the area have been urged to secure their vehicles and remain vigilant.
Burham’s arrest took place on May 22 after police located him in South Carolina, where they discovered a note addressed to his father inside a stolen vehicle.
The note, as revealed in court filings, reads, “I’m not sorry for what I did, however I do feel terrible about the children.”
Burham mentioned quitting drinking on May 10 and expressed apologies for the problems he caused his family.
Federal court filings indicate that Jamestown police discovered Hodgkin’s lifeless body in her home on May 11, while Burham was already being sought on rape charges related to the same victim.
On that same day, he allegedly appeared on his ex-girlfriend’s Ring doorbell camera attempting to break into her house and setting her car ablaze.
The ex-girlfriend is identified as “N.O.” in the federal criminal complaint.
After evading capture, Burham crossed state lines into Pennsylvania, where a couple was reported missing, along with their vehicle, on May 20.
Pennsylvania law enforcement issued a missing persons alert, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol located the victims alive in North Charleston the following day.
The couple informed the police that they had been forcibly taken from their home at gunpoint and identified Burham as their alleged abductor.
The FBI announced Burham’s arrest on May 22 after a concerned resident reported spotting a suspicious individual. At the time of his escape, he was awaiting extradition to New York to face the murder charge.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office at 716-938-2217 or call 911, according to FOX News.