Warren County Commissioner Jeff Eggleston held a news conference on Wednesday, July 12, to address the recent escape of fugitive murder suspect Michael Charles Burham from the county jail. Eggleston announced plans to improve security at the facility and ensure the safety of both inmates and staff. The Warren County District Attorney, Rob Greene, had requested the county jail to work with Pennsylvania State Police (PCP) to evaluate the facility and its policies in order to identify weaknesses and recommend improvements.

During the news conference, Eggleston revealed that the commissioners had reviewed data following Burham's escape, which led to immediate plans to make repairs on the roof of the prison yard. The prison yard was described as a 40-foot by 40-foot room with a cage on the top floor of the jail. Eggleston emphasized that it is essentially a box on the top level of the jail. As part of the security enhancements, exercise equipment that provided inmates access to higher positions was removed. It was alleged that Burham climbed through the jail's gym roof to the rooftop where he used bedsheets tied together to climb down and escape. The space is now being augmented with deterrents and safety measures.

The commissioners stated that structural fixes, including the repairs on the roof of the prison yard, would be completed by the end of the week. Additional upgrades are scheduled to be implemented later. The goal is to prevent future escapes and create a secure environment within the jail.

Michael Charles Burham, a skilled survivalist and firearms trainer, managed to evade capture for nine days following his escape on July 6. Over 150 officers from state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an extensive search in the woods of Pennsylvania and New York. Finally, on Saturday, July 15, Burham was recaptured after raising the suspicion of a homeowner in Pennsylvania. The homeowner engaged in a brief conversation with Burham, who claimed to be on a camping trip. However, the homeowner recognized Burham and immediately contacted the authorities. Police swiftly surrounded him and took him into custody.

Burham had been held in Pennsylvania on kidnapping and burglary charges and was also suspected of murder and rape in New York. He has a history of violent crimes, which led to a manhunt in May during which he was captured in South Carolina.

During his escape, Burham was wearing a denim jacket and a jail-issued orange-striped jumpsuit, along with matching Crocs. It is believed that he may have changed his clothes along the way. The search for Burham involved more than 150 officers from various law enforcement agencies, who received reports of possible sightings in both Pennsylvania and New York.

Burham's escape and subsequent capture have drawn attention to his criminal activities. He is the prime suspect in the shooting death of Kala Hodgkin in Jamestown, New York, and is accused of multiple violent crimes committed during an interstate crime spree that ended with his capture in South Carolina.

The Warren County jail is now working diligently to enhance security measures in order to prevent future escapes and ensure the safety of inmates and staff. The evaluation of the facility and its policies will help identify weaknesses and recommend improvements. The repairs on the roof of the prison yard are expected to be completed by the end of the week, with additional upgrades to follow. The ultimate goal is to create a secure environment that prevents any further incidents like Burham's escape.