Dog found the suspected murderer in the forest – after a nine-day police hunt

The nine-day manhunt for murder suspect Michael Burham is over.

More than 200 police officers had searched for the fugitive – who was found in the woods by a dog.

– We were constantly worried that some citizen or police officer would be injured, says police chief George Bivens.

After a nine-day manhunt, fugitive murder suspect Michael Burham has been arrested. The police found him in a wooded area outside the city of Warren in Pennsylvania, USA, around midnight on Sunday night, Swedish time. This is confirmed by local authorities, according to CNN.

In a clip on CNN, about a dozen police officers lead the 34-year-old along a forest road. The military veteran, who received special training in survival and weapons handling, is dressed entirely in beige.

On Wednesday, the police in Pennsylvania had released a picture of the wanted father of several children, who was in custody on suspicion of 26 crimes, including kidnapping, rape and arson. Anyone who would come up with information that led to his arrest would be rewarded with the equivalent of 200,000 kroner.

Killed dog

Burham is suspected of murdering 34-year-old Kala Hodkin, who is the mother of his daughter, in May. After Hodkin was found shot to death, he went to the home of another woman with whom he has children – and burned her car.

He stayed away for two weeks before he could be arrested in the state of North Carolina. Then he had time to kidnap an elderly couple.

On July 6, he escaped from custody and was on the run for nine days before he could be arrested. He will not return to the prison he escaped from by wrapping himself from the roof with bedclothes tied together, the police announced.

After the escape, Burham is suspected of having broken into a house in the western parts of the state of New York, to steal men’s clothes and food – and to kill a dog. Now it was a dog that caught him.

Fleeed into the forest

At 4pm on Saturday local time – 10pm in Sweden – the couple Cindy and Ron Ecklund, who live near the forest, had heard their dog Tucker barking behind the house. They had hopped in their golf cart to see what made the brown labrador react—and found Burham.

The suspected killer had been dirty and had his prison pants on inside-out, Warren County Police Chief George Bivens said in the news conference after the arrest. Ron had asked him what he was doing there and he had said he was camping.

– The owner of the property recognized him, got his wife to get back to the golf cart and drove back from there so he could immediately contact us while Burham fled into the woods, Bivens said, according to CNN.

“Tired and worn out”

In an interview with Daily Mail says Ron Ecklund about how he recognized Burham from his tiger tattoo on his arm.

– We hadn’t even gone half way back to the house when I said “call the police, I know exactly who it is”, he says.

– I’ve seen his pictures enough times, he’s all over the news.

The police rushed out and with the help of tracking dogs were able to find the fugitive, who Bivens describes as “tired and worn out”. He had tried to stay away but was finally surrounded by police snipers, writes Fox news.

Now the Ecklunds may have the opportunity to receive the high ransom, and tell Tucker that he will get his share of the reward.

Found armory

More than 200 police officers have taken part in the search for Burham. During the hunt, a supply of food, clothes, ammunition and other things that is believed to have belonged to the 34-year-old was found.

Authorities had previously described Burham as dangerous and possibly armed. After he escaped, the woman who is the mother of his 13-year-old son and the son were moved to sheltered accommodation. Bivens described the arrest of an unarmed Burham as “a huge relief.”

– We were constantly worried that it would end up with some citizen, or even some police officer, being injured in some way, he said.

– You always worry about things like that, so that it doesn’t happen makes it a good day.

The police will now investigate whether Burham received any help while he was on the run.