CONEWANGO TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA: Officials claimed that a 34-year-old homicide suspect who had managed to escape from a jail in northwest Pennsylvania earlier this month has been caught after being reported by a homeowner in his backyard. The state police took Michael Burham into custody at gunpoint on Saturday night, July 15 ending a protracted nine-day hunt for the homicide and arson suspect, according to authorities.
A county official claimed that Burham used tied-up bedsheets and raised himself on exercise equipment to escape Warren County Prison in northwest Pennsylvania on July 6 just before midnight. Officials labeled him a "very dangerous" prisoner with military training and survivalist expertise after his escape from the facility housing defendants awaiting trial or those serving sentences of two years or less in prison.
How was Michael Burham caught?
Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens informed the media at a conference that authorities were notified of a "suspicious individual" in Warren County's Conewango Township just before 4 pm, as per Fox News. According to authorities, a homeowner who went to find out why his dog was barking discovered Burnham in the backyard of his residence. Burnham informed the homeowner that he was on a "camping trip" during their brief interaction, according to Bivens.
"They went out to check on why the dog was barking, went to the rear of their property, they encountered Burham," the Lt Col stated. "I'm told that a conversation occurred, brief conversation, asking what was he doing there. He said something about camping. And the owner of the property recognized him, got his wife back into, they were in a golf cart...drove away from there so he could immediately contact us as Burham fled into the woods."
Michael Burham appeared 'tired' and 'worn out'
The homeowner called the police to report the encounter after seeing the escaped prisoner right away. State and local law enforcement agencies worked together to establish a wide perimeter around the area with air assistance and K-9 units as backup, according to the police. He tried to hide in the woods, but the police followed him as he went. He was surrounded and taken into custody at about 5.50 pm. Burham appeared "tired" and "worn out" upon his detention, according to Bevins. Despite being inside-out, he was still donning his orange jail outfit. Burnham, who was being jailed on 26 counts of arson, kidnapping, and burglary when he escaped, won't be going back to the Warren County Jail where he broke out more than a week ago, according to authorities. It is still unknown where he will be lodged.
Warren is situated about 20 miles south of Jamestown, New York, and about 10 miles south of the New York-Pennsylvania border. The US Forest Service, U.S. Border Patrol, and the Jamestown Police Department were a few of the local, regional, and national organizations actively involved in the pursuit, as per CBS.
