Michael Burham

Michael Burham has been extradited back to New York State.

Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt sent out a brief notice that Burham appeared Wednesday in Federal Court after being extradited from South Carolina following a two week manhunt.

Schmidt is expected to provide a full update on the status of the case this morning.

Burham allegedly kidnapped an elderly couple in Pennsylvania, who he appeared to have drive him to the southern state.

He was previously charged by Jamestown Police with 1st Degree Rape, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest on April 27. Jamestown Police then charged Burham with 3rd Degree Arson following an incident on Fulton Street on May 11. He is also a suspect in an ongoing homicide investigation arising from the death of Kala Hodgkin which occurred on May 11 as well.

Michael Burham

The Chautauqua County District Attorney says Michael Burham may not be extradited back to New York State for another week.

DA Jason Schmidt sent an update to media Wednesday morning due to numerous inquiries.

Burham is currently being held in South Carolina after being taken into custody following his alleged kidnapping of an elderly couple in Pennsylvania, who he appeared to have drive him to the southern state.

Burham was previously charged by Jamestown Police with 1st Degree Rape, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest on April 27. Jamestown Police then charged Burham with 3rd Degree Arson following an incident on Fulton Street on May 11. He is also a suspect in an ongoing homicide investigation arising from the death of Kala Hodgkin which occurred on May 11 as well.

On May 25, Burham appeared before a South Carolina Magistrate where he waived any objection to his extradition on the Federal warrant.

Schmidt said in a statement that it was his, “..understanding that the U.S. Marshals Service is handling his transport back to the Western District of New York and that his ETA is not yet clear. It may take another week or two, if not more, before he is back in New York.”

Schmidt added that he is in contact with the Pennsylvania and Federal prosecutors and they are coordinating the respective prosecutions. He said, “Ms. Hodgkin’s death is obviously the most serious event in this tragic chain of events and it is critical to all of us that we proceed diligently but very carefully, especially given our discovery obligations in the face of an investigation that spans across multiple states and multiple law enforcement agencies.”

Michael Burham

The suspect in the death of a Jamestown woman will be extradited back to New York State.

WIVB reports 34-year old Michael Burham made an initial appearance Thursday in federal court in South Carolina. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina says Burham waived extradition and a preliminary hearing and will be heading back to New York to face a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

Burham was arrested in South Carolina near the Berkeley-Charleston county line Wednesday afternoon. Authorities credit an observant Berkeley County resident who spotted Burham near his home and immediately called 911. Responding law enforcement agencies used K-9s to track Burham, which aided in his arrest. No one was injured when Burham was taken into custody.

A federal arrest warrant from the United States District Court, for the Western District of New York, was issued for Burham on May 22, 2023, after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Burham was also wanted for state warrants out of New York and Pennsylvania.

Burham was on the run after a spree of alleged crimes, which include rape and unlawful imprisonment. He was also wanted for kidnapping an elderly couple in Pennsylvania. The couple alleges,

Burham kidnapped them from their home, drove them to North Charleston, South Carolina and released them. The couple was not harmed.

Jamestown Police have also been searching for Burham as a suspect in the death of 34-year old Kala Hodgkin on May 11.

(Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office)

The suspect in a Jamestown homicide has been captured following a manhunt in South Carolina.

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis announced the arrest of 34-year old Michael Burham Wednesday afternoon.

Lewis said a 9-1-1 call received Wednesday afternoon from a citizen who spotted Burham on their property led to law enforcement searching the area and taking Burham into custody just after 5:00 p.m.

Burham is a suspect in the death of 34-year old Kala Hodgkin at 125 William Street. He’s also the suspect in the kidnapping of a couple from Pennsylvania that involved the couple driving Burham to North Charleston, South Carolina. He is also wanted on rape charges from a previous case.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assist the FBI with this case.

North Charleston Police in South Carolina put out a notice to the public to be on the look out for 34-year Michael Burham after police were in contact with two people who said Burham kidnapped them from their home in Pennsylvania.

Jamestown Police are looking for Burham in connection with the death of Kala Hodgkin at 125 William Street on May 11.

Jamestown Police are working with Pennsylvania State Police, authorities in North Charleston, South Carolina, and the FBI regarding the Michael Burham case.

Burham is still considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with any information regarding Burham is still asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department immediately at 716-483-7537 or the anonymous tip line at 716-483-8477. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.

Jamestown Police have now issued an arrest warrant for 34-year old Michael Burham in connection with the May 11th vehicle fire on Fulton Street. He’s also a suspect in the May 11th death of 34-year old Kala Hodgkin at 125 William Street.

In addition to the previous warrants of first degree rape and second degree unlawful imprisonment, Burham is wanted for Third Degree arson, Fourth Degree Criminal Mischief, two counts of Second Degree Criminal Contempt, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Crime Stoppers of Western New York has also issued a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of Burham.

Jamestown Police say Burham is considered armed and dangerous and urge anyone who sees him to call 9-1-1 immediately and do NOT approach or try to apprehend him.

Information to Crime Stoppers can be reported anonymously by calling 716-867-6161, through the “Buffalo Tips” app or by visiting www.crimestopperswny.org
Crime Stoppers requests that tips NOT be submitted through Facebook.

Anyone with any information regarding Burham is also still asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 716-483-7537 or the anonymous tip line at 716-483-8477. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.

Jamestown Police

34-year old Kala Hodgkin was killed early on Thursday, May 11 at 125 William Street.

Jamestown Police have confirmed that 34-year old Michael Burham is a suspect in that homicide.

They ask anyone who sees Burham or know of his whereabouts to call 911 immediately and that people should not approach him as he’s considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with any information regarding Burham is still asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department immediately at 716-483-7537 or the anonymous tip line at 716-483-8477. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.