CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. — Off the run and in a prison jumpsuit, former fugitive Michael Burham pleaded guilty to six charges in Warren County Court Thursday, including kidnapping an elderly couple and escaping from the Warren County Prison in July leading to a nine-day manhunt.
The plea nearly put to rest his spree in Pennsylvania but brought the focus back to where it all began in May in Jamestown.
Burham is still listed as just a suspect in the murder of Kala Hogkin, 34, and could be facing a separate arson charge.
Chautauqua County’s District Attorney Jason Schmidt said his team is working toward having an indictment in the hands of a grand jury by the end of this calendar year with a potential arraignment in early 2024. According to the DA, Pennsylvania prosecuted first because Chautauqua County does not have its own forensics lab and is waiting for results from a federal lab.
“We were in touch with Kayla's family,” he said. “We know they want to see justice served. The police agencies want that too. I want it as well. But it's really the smartest move that we can make under the circumstances.”
He said his office has been able to take its time in making sure it has all the necessary evidence before charging Burham because the former fugitive is now safely behind bars in Erie County prison in Pennsylvania. He said there is no immediate threat to the public unlike when Burham was on the loose back in July.
“Knowing that he was locked up, it gave us a little bit of breathing room here to do this right,” he said.
Burham will return to court for sentencing in Warren on Jan. 5. He would serve his sentences consecutively — first in Pennsylvania and second in New York.
A woman who identified herself as Hodgkin’s aunt was in court today and said of Burham, “I hope he rots in hell.”