Rape and murder suspect Michael Charles Burham was on the lam, but a dog, Tucker, spotted him. (Mug shot of Burham: Warren County; screenshot of Tucker: WIVB)
A man suspected of murder who twice eluded law enforcement and might still have long-avoided capture but for the sniffing prowess of a Pennsylvania couple’s chocolate Labrador has now been sentenced for kidnapping an elderly couple and escaping from prison.
Michael Burham, 35, received a combined sentence of between 25 years and two months to 50 years and four months behind bars for his somewhat fanciful prison escape and the prior kidnapping incident, after pleading guilty to both crimes in November 2023.
He was also sentenced for four lesser crimes.
“The defendant used all possible means to escape the consequences of his actions,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a statement released late last week after the sentencing hearing. “Today, thanks to hard work and collaboration between our office and the Pennsylvania State Police, the Warren County District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Warren Police Department, Michael Burham will be held accountable for his many crimes.”
Warren County Judge Gregory J. Hammond upbraided the since-condemned man as a “grave threat to the public” from whom the “public needs protection” while issuing his sentence, according to a courtroom report by the Times-Observer.
“You’ll do anything to anybody to maintain your freedom,” the judge continued. “Your rehabilitative needs are through the roof.”
A self-taught survivalist with military training from his time in a reserve force, Burham used the skills he learned to live life on the lam — after escaping from the Warren County Prison in early July 2023.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Burham was able to escape the detention facility by climbing on top of some of the prison’s exercise equipment, leaving the prison yard through a metal grate in the roof, then, in story-like fashion, using a makeshift rope made out of several bed sheets tied together to lower himself to the ground.
At the time, Burham was the lead suspect in the fatal shooting of 34-year-old Kala Hodgkin, 34, who was gunned down inside of her home in Jamestown, New York, on March 13, 2023. After the shooting, authorities allege Burham set fire to another woman’s car on purpose.
Law enforcement spotted him during the investigation into, and a warrant issued in connection to, Hodgkin’s murder. But on May 20, 2023, Burham gave police the slip by kidnapping an elderly Warren County couple, stealing their car, and driving to South Carolina. Authorities were eventually able to locate the couple unharmed and took Burham into custody a few days later.
Hammond tore into Burham for what the couple went through during their harrowing, multistate kidnapping experience.
The judge discussed the “absolute terror” of someone like Burham, wanted for murder, pulling a gun on them — adding that “peaceful, caring human beings aren’t cut out to handle” what he did, the Warren-based newspaper reported.
“Ultimately, they will never completely recover,” Hammond said.
Less than two weeks after the daring prison break, a dog named Trevor alerted Ron and Cindy Ecklund to the man in their backyard.
“Michael Burham has been captured,” the Pennsylvania State Police announced on July 15, 2023. “Thank you to all partner agencies and the surrounding community for their assistance and support.”
Ron Ecklund discussed the events that led to Burham’s recapture with Buffalo, New York-based CBS affiliate WIVB.
The husband said he questioned the stranger, who he first thought was just a fisherman, about what he was doing.
“I’m camping,” Burham allegedly said.
“Well, no one camps in my backyard,” Ron told the TV station.
The couple started returning home.
“We started back, and I said, ‘dial 911,”” Ron told WIVB. “I’ve seen his pictures.”
In November, Burham pleaded guilty to six separate counts, including kidnapping, escape, reckless endangerment, making terroristic threats, theft, and burglary.
The alleged murder of Hodgkin is still under investigation in New York. Other potential charges there include rape, arson, and false imprisonment.
Jerry Lambe and Alberto Luperon contributed to this report.
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