Can you sort of fill us in on the latest?
What? What's going on? Sure. We,
to recap a little, as you know,
Michael Charles Burham, 34 years of age,
was in the Warren County Jail on
a $1,000,000 bail for kidnappin,
burglary and related charges.
During the late hours of Thursd,
July 6th, Burham escaped
from the Warren County Jail.
The escape is being
investigated by the Warren
City Police Department, but whaI
would say is that he was last s.
Wearing a denim jacket, an
orange stripe jumpsuit and Croc,
we expect that by now he
likely has changed clothing.
We described Burham as a
self-taught survivalist with
military reserve experience.
We believe he has previously prepared
to conceal himself in the woods.
In the past 24 hours or so,
since the last press conference that we did,
there were a few updates
that we want to report.
We've searched numerous residen,
abandoned structures
and vast wooded areas.
All driven by tips or
investigative decisions.
We've located small stockpiles
or campsites in wooded areas in
the general vicinity of Warren,
and we believe that at least some of these
may be associated with Burham.
We have no reason to believe tht
Burham has left the general are.
With that said, we've received
several tips or investigative
leads from outside of the area,
and we're thoroughly investigatg
each and every one of those.
None of them, though at this po,
has caused us to change our assessment
that he remains in this area.
But we're constantly reevaluatig
that position. We're
asking that people not only
in this area but nationwide,
familiarize themselves with the picture
of Burham and please contact usf
they believe they may have seen.
It's also always an option to contact 911.
We consider Burham
to be armed and dangerous and
ask people not to approach him.
And anyone with information
is asked contact Pennsylvania
State Police Warrant Station at
814-728-3600 or as I said a minute ago,
911 if they needed immediate response.
the US Marshals have issued a $0
reward and a Warren County Crime
Stoppers have issued a $2000 reward for
information leading to his apprehension.
I would stress that this remaina
very fluid and active investiga.
Which is being conducted in
conjunction with more than a don
of our federal, state and localw
enforcement partners. State pole
along with all of those partners
are utilizing all appropriate
resources and we're absolutely
committed to the safety of the people
here in the Warren County area and beyond
as we work to capture for him.
And again, anyone with informatn
or concerns, Zach asked,
contact state police warrant at
814-728-3600 or call
911. Sure. So a couple questions for you.
So first one, this is I guess te
second time really that we've sn
a wanted poster out for for Micl
Burham with once in South Carola
a couple days even in Pennsylvaa
right now we're seeing it again.
What is it about Burham that
makes him so skilled at being
able to evade law enforcement?
I don't know if it's skilled
or you know as far as.
It was the escape to begin with.
There was an opportunity there t
apparently presented itself and that's
part of another investigation and the
authorities there will look at the weaknesses
and things and ways to correct .
In terms of his evading law enforcement,
I don't he's certainly had that
surgeon of some survivalist trag
or self-taught survival trainind
has some military reserve train,
so some basic training in the
army and that kind of thing.
But but in terms I would also
just remind you that in terms o.
Of his ability to evade law enforcement.
This is a very large area,
a lot of very difficult terrain,
a lot of cabins, oil and gas structures,
you know, sheds, shacks,
those kinds of things.
A lot of places that somebody can hide.
And and we do have some concernt
he may be receiving some assiste
from one or more individuals as well.
So all of that combined makes
it a challenge to find them.
With that said,
I'm confident we will find him d
he'll be eventually brought bacd
and face the criminal justice system.
What makes you think that
he's receiving assistance?
There are some investigative
leads that have led us to beliee
that and and we'll pursue those.
I don't really want to talk
specifically about them,
but what I would tell you is tht
we will not only follow them upn
order to assist with his captur,
but we will also be looking to prosecute
anyone that has assisted him an.
Sure. As far as the woods go,
right, this area of the woods,
are you able to specify where
exactly in the woods you guys a?
What would you're referring to?I
would just tell you that we've
expanded the search over time.
Obviously it started at the very beginning
in the city of Warren has expand
out and and again it's all drivy
whether it's tips or investigate
leads or things that we find out
there that the lead us to expan.
I I don't really want to give am
perimeter and it because again you never
know what the next piece of information
is and and it we just further ed
as we need to to check that out.
Do you anticipate that there
will be a point where, you know,
he just can't run anymore?
I mean, I'd imagine it's
very hard to live out there.
I expect there will be a point e
we capture him for whatever rea,
whether it's because he can't rn
anymore or because someone spotm
or because the investigative techniques
that we're using allow us to focus in
on exactly where he is and capture him.
But one way or another, he'll be caught.
Could you speak a little bit moo
how exactly he escaped from prison was?
There any reason why he was left
unmonitored and able to escape? Again,
that's not part of our investigation.
Warren City police are handing
the handling the escape.
What I would tell you is that, you know,
locally they've asked me if if e
question came up to emphasize tt
the city police really don't hae
anything to do with the operati.
So they're doing an
independent investigation.
Of the escape from the jail.
But the other part of that is,
you know, questions have come up
about why he was out in the yaro
late at night and that kind of thing.
And the explanation that's been
provided to me is that each one
of the inmates is required to
have a certain amount of outside
exercise yard time every day.
And there are limitations at th,
at that jail space.
Limitations that, I mean,
they can only allow a certain nr
of inmates out at any given tim.
Staffing limitations,
all of those kinds of things
that come into play.
And so they have a basically a
rotation set up that starts very
early in the morning and runs
till late at night to allow them
to get everyone the time that
they're supposed to have out th.
That's the explanation has
been provided to me.
But again,
anything beyond that Warren
City would be looking into.
What's your message to residents
tonight in this area who may be
fearful of a murderer being out
on the loose in their backyard?
Well, more than anything we
asked them to be vigilant.
We asked them to take.
Reasonable precautions.
Make sure that their doors
and windows are locked.
Make sure that vehicles are loc,
Don't leave keys in the car,
don't leave things out where he
could easily supply himself wit,
you know, food,
clothing or a car and and and ad
for that matter even a weapon.
So you know,
again we just ask and take commn
sense approach to this whole thg
but and be vigilant and contacts
if there is anything that they .
It's suspicious,
is there? I mean not imagine they're,
they're pretty scared, right.
Have you heard from any residens
about this? Are they concerned?
We certainly interact with resis
as you know as we are out in the
communities and and searching a.
I would say there's a whole
range of emotion out there.
Certainly there are some
residents are very concerned,
others not quite as much,
but but I want to assure
all of them they're doing,
we're doing everything we can
and our partners are as well.
Try and keep them safe and bring this
to a resolution as quickly as possible.
Thank you very much.
I think they left out.
Anything you want to add?
No, I think we've covered it.
But thank you. Thank
you for the time. Yes, of cours.
That'd be great here since
this this happened.
You know again we're putting
all of our resources in every
every effort we possibly can.
So there are a lot of people working some
long hours here and the resources just
in keep increasing almost by the hour.
You know agencies that already
had a presence here or bringing
in even more people,
cycling through some fresh
people but adding to the numbers
on a regular basis as as the
that but is there I guess why
is it exactly Do you feel that
you're certain he's still here?
He hasn't been able to.
Escape further past this.
Again, I go back to the various
investigative leads and pieces f
information we've developed over time.
I think he certainly will
want to leave this area.
It's a matter of whether he's
had the opportunity or not yet.
And that's why when I said earlr
that we're always reassessing
that even if he hasn't left now,
it doesn't mean that he's
not leaving an hour from now.
That he didn't find a set of kes
in a car or he didn't car Jack r
kidnap someone as he did when he
went to South Carolina previous.
So you know, those were all concerns for us.
And again,
that's where my advice to residents goes
back about remaining vigilant and you know,
just really kind of knowing what's going
on around you and keep things secured.