A man wanted in connection with a homicide investigation in Chautauqua County has been charged with kidnapping in Warren County.

Michael C. Burham, 34, Ashville, was charged by Pennsylvania State Police on Sunday through District Judge Raymond Zydonik’s office. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Saturday.

The two Sheffield Township victims, who the Times Observer has elected not to identify, were expected to attend a soccer game on Saturday in Warren but never arrived.

Family checked the victim’s residence and observed “dirt and mud on the floor of the residence and there was partially eaten food sitting in the residence.” Attempts to call the victims — as well as checks of several properties where they may be — were unsuccessful.

As a result, they were reported missing at approximately 9:45 p.m. Saturday evening, according to the affidavit.

Troopers were contacted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol shortly after 6:30 Sunday morning. South Carolina patrolmen told troopers here that the victims had been located at a cemetery in North Charleston, S.C., and had told them they “had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their” Sheffield township residence.

The victims, according to police, were able to identify Burham based on media reports about Burham “as well as conversations they had with Burham while they were being held by him against their will.”

The victims were interviewed by police in South Carolina. A female victim encountered Burham first and was taken at gunpoint into the residence. Burham then allegedly took a male victim at gunpoint and took both victims to their bedroom.

“Once there,” troopers detail, “Burham obtained clothing belonging to the victims” and then “forced the victims to enter” their vehicle. “The vehicle was then removed from the residence … and they were forced to travel to the North Charleston, SC area.”

They told police that Burham told them to exit the vehicle in a cemetery and then drove away in their 2022 Honda CRV.

Troopers here then obtained a search warrant for the victim’s residence and located “one pair of size 11 Rocky boots, brown and camouflage in color” in the garage on top of a toaster oven. “This footwear,” the affidavit states, “was confirmed by the female victim to not belong to anyone at the residence and she believed (the boots) to belong to Michael Burham.”

Troopers conclude in the affidavit that it is “believed Burham was staying on the property or nearby and had been watching the residence … for approximately one week.”

According to the affidavit, a search to the north of the residence resulted in the discovery of a plastic tarp, camouflage clothing and water bottles that did not belong to the victims.

Troopers state in the criminal complaint that Burham’s actions aim to “avoid police apprehension for several other crimes” and filed a total of 26 charges against Burham — two counts each of kidnapping, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct and single counts of possessing an instrument of crime with intent, theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, burglary, criminal trespass – enter structure, criminal trespass and loitering and prowling at night time.

Over the weekend, a television show’s spotlight led to more tips as Jamestown police continued their search for Burham, the person of interest in the murder of Kala Hodgkin at 125 William St., Jamestown. The search for Burham was featured Friday on “On Patrol: Live” and the segment about the case is available on the Jamestown Police Department’s Facebook page.

Investigators are asking anyone who may know who assisted Burham to contact them so the department can work to bring those responsible to justice for aiding and abetting a wanted fugitive. Investigators from multiple area departments have interviewed friends and family here locally and do not believe Burham’s immediate family is assisting Burham in any way, police said in their news release.

Based on the investigation and viewing video from Jamestown and Warren, Jamestown Police Department investigators said in a news release Saturday that Burham used a rental vehicle from a Warren business, which he allegedly drove to the area of the homicide. Police say Burham then drove the rental to the area of the arson on Fulton Street and returned to Warren the morning after the homicide. Jamestown police are in possession of that rental vehicle. Police also report Burham walked away from the rental agency and checked out of a hotel in Warren.

Burham is still believed to be armed and dangerous. Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Michael C. Burham or who may have assisted him in absconding is asked to contact the Jamestown Police Department at 716-483-7537 or via the anonymous TIPS line at 716-483-8477. All calls will be kept strictly confidential.