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(WNY News Now) – Jamestown – Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt held a press conference at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd, to discuss the extradition of Michael Burham, who stands accused of murdering Kala Hodgkin on May 11, 2023.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt, joined by Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund, Jamestown Police Department Chief Jackson, Deputy Chief Forrester, and Lieutenant Wozniak, held a press conference at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2nd, to discuss the extradition and upcoming trial of Michael Burham on charges of Murder in the 1st Degree, Murder in the 2nd Degree, and Arson in the 3rd Degree.
Burham’s extradition to Chautauqua County comes following the conclusion of his trial in Pennsylvania, where he was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison on charges of Kidnapping, Burglary, and Escape for the kidnapping of a Pennsylvania couple and his subsequent escape from the Warren County Jail following his capture.
Burham’s charges within Chautauqua County stem from the tragic murder of Kala Hodgkin on May 11, 2023, where Burham has been accused of killing her with a firearm in her home. Additionally, he has been charged with arson for allegedly setting a motor vehicle on fire in a separate incident.
DA Schmidt emphasized the collaborative effort surrounding the case, with assistance given from the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Warren Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Warren County DA’s Office, and the FBI. DA Schmidt also noted reliance on crime lab testing out of Erie County, given that Chautauqua County lacks such resources itself.
When asked why charges had not been filed until recently, DA Schmidt stated that, while charges would normally be filed quickly to ensure that the alleged perpetrator is taken off of the streets until the trial finishes, Burham’s apprehension and detention in the state of Pennsylvania allowed them to allocate more time to building their case and collecting evidence.
DA Schmidt estimated that Burham’s trial will commence sometime around the summer of 2025, and stressed that the charges remain accusations and Burham is presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise.
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