Chautauqua County DA Indicts Burham in Jamestown Homicide Case
District Attorney Jason Schmidt and the Jamestown Police Department held a joint press conference August 2nd in Jamestown, NY, to provide an update on the case against Michael Burham, the 35-year-old Jamestown resident who escaped from the Warren County Jail last summer, sparking a large-scale, multi-state manhunt.
Burham, who is currently incarcerated on charges of kidnapping, escaping jail, and the use of deadly weapons and force in incidents that occurred in Warren, PA, and South Carolina, is now facing charges in the state of New York.
The charges include first and second degree murder and third degree arson in connection with the death of Kala Hodgkin, a 34-year-old Jamestown resident and mother of three.
According to District Attorney Schmidt, the charge of first degree murder is linked to Hodgkin's prior report of rape involving Burham, which made her a witness to a crime. If convicted, Burham could face life imprisonment without parole, in addition to the sentencing from his previous charges in Pennsylvania.
The District Attorney announced that a discovery compliance conference is scheduled for August 23rd, with hopes of progressing to trial by next summer.
Schmidt highlighted the collaborative efforts of law enforcement behind the scenes and expressed a strong commitment to pursuing justice for Hodgkin's family.
"We have a long road ahead of us, but we are dedicated to ensuring justice for the Hodgkin family and honoring Kala's memory," Schmidt said.
"It's been a lot of work to get to this point," added Scott Forester, Deputy Chief Jamestown Police Department. "It's going to be nice, not just for the Police Department but for the community as a whole to get moving with this."
The Chautauqua County District Attorney and Jamestown Police Department are optimistic about setting a court date for next summer, but they recognize the challenges that lie ahead in this complex case.
We will continue to follow this story closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.