Jail escapee Michael Burham indicted on Jamestown murder charges
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Michael C. Burham, who escaped from a Pennsylvania jail last summer while also suspected in the shooting death of a Jamestown woman, was indicted and arraigned Wednesday on multiple murder charges in connection with the killing, the Chautauqua County District Attorney announced.
Burham, 35, is accused of fatally shooting 34-year-old Kala Hodgkin while she was asleep in her home on May 11, 2023. He was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder and third-degree arson and has been moved to the Chautauqua County Jail, where he is being held without bail pending the outcome of the case.
Timeline: Michael Burham’s escape and capture from Warren, Pa. jail
Burham was charged with raping Hodgkin and had an active warrant out for his arrest at the time of the alleged fatal shooting. A massive manhunt that spanned multiple states was conducted to locate Burham after Hodgkin’s death, and he was eventually taken into custody on May 24 in South Carolina after he kidnapped an elderly Pennsylvania couple at gunpoint. He was sentenced to 25 years and two months to 50 years and four months in connection with the kidnapping and related charges in January 2024.
While being held in Pennsylvania, Burham escaped from the Warren County Jail using bed sheets and exercise equipment on July 6, 2023 and went on the run for nine days before being re-captured.
“In February, we presented our case to a Chautauqua County Grand Jury which issued a secret indictment which was not unsealed until after we were able to complete the extradition process leading to Mr. Burham’s return to Chautauqua County Tuesday evening,” said Chautauqua County District Attorney Justin Schmidt in a release. “With his arraignment yesterday, we now look forward to prosecuting our case and ensuring that justice is served under the eyes of the law.”
A trial date for Burham is not expected until next summer due to a “busy trial schedule and the litigation on this case which lies ahead,” according to the release. A discovery conference is slated for Aug. 23.
Schmidt and other law enforcement officials are scheduled to address Burham’s indictment and arraignment during a news conference at noon Friday.
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Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the WIVB News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.
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