PENNSYLVANIA — Michael Burham, who was on the run from law enforcement agencies for nine days, pleaded guilty to his charges of escaping from Warren County Prison and kidnapping an elderly couple. The announcement came this week from Attorney General Michelle Henry.
Burham, 34, was initially incarcerated in Warren County for kidnapping an older couple in Pennsylvania and driving them to South Carolina. This move was part of his plan to evade a murder investigation that was underway in New York.
The prosecution of the prison escape case was undertaken by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Simultaneously, the Warren County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution of the kidnapping case.
In a courtroom on Thursday, Burham admitted guilt to charges in both cases. The sentencing will be delivered by a Warren County Judge on January 5, 2024.
Attorney General Henry expressed her appreciation for the efforts of the various teams involved in bringing the defendant to justice. “The defendant was on the run for nine days in an attempt to evade justice,” she said. “I commend the efforts of Pennsylvania State Police who took this defendant into custody, as well as my team, the Warren County District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Warren Police Department, for their work in holding the defendant accountable for his many crimes.”
Burham’s escape from prison on July 6, 2023, was meticulously planned. He climbed on top of exercise equipment and slipped out of the prison yard through a grated metal roof. His exit strategy included sliding down a rope he had crafted from bedsheets. His time as a fugitive ended on July 15 when he was apprehended by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Senior Deputy Attorney General Evan Lowry and Deputy Attorney General Heather Serrano are leading the prosecution in this case.
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