Michael Burham, the man at the center of a multi-state manhunt in 2023, has pleaded guilty to the murder of a Jamestown woman, according to the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.
Burham entered a guilty plea Tuesday to first-degree murder in the shooting death of Kala Hodgkin, which occurred on May 11, 2023. The plea was entered during a final court conference ahead of jury selection, which had been scheduled to begin next week.
Prosecutors said Burham was already wanted on separate charges, including rape, at the time of the killing. Following Hodgkin’s death, he fled and was the subject of an extensive search that ended with his arrest in South Carolina later that month. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to more than 25 years in prison for kidnapping an elderly couple and forcing them to drive him out of state.
Burham later escaped custody again in July 2023, prompting a second manhunt that lasted 10 days before he was captured in northwest Pennsylvania.
Sentencing in the murder case is scheduled for March 2. Authorities said Burham is expected to receive a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
Discover more from UC Today Online
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
