Menu
Authorities continue hunt for killer in Wayne County
GREENVILLE -- Wayne County authorities continue their search for a man described as armed and dangerous who is accused of killing a man Sunday near Hiram.
Michael Burkman is accused of killing John C. Fowler, 57, by shooting him multiple times with a shotgun.
The 47-year-old, whose address is listed at Cape Girardeau, was charged Monday with the Class A felony of first-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action by Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Jackson.
"Mr. Burkman should be considered armed and extremely dangerous," said Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch, who encourages anyone seeing him not to confront him, but call the sheriff's department at 573-224-3219, the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 573-840-9500 or the nearest law enforcement agency.
"I can't state enough not to confront this man," Finch said. "... I don't think honestly that just the everyday normal citizen (should be concerned about their safety).
"I don't think he would bother them unless they tried to corner him, then, I believe, he could become very violent."
Authorities are continuing to drive around areas on the eastern side of Wayne County today and check any buildings "we can check" looking for Burkman, Finch said.
Burkman, he said, had access to a vehicle, but "we've got that vehicle."
Finch said they received a tip Monday that Burkman might be in an abandoned house near the junction of Highway P and Highway TT, about five miles from Arab.
All roads leading into that area, Finch said, were blocked for about an hour or so "while we were clearing that house."
Assisting in searching the house, Finch said, were members of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's SWAT team.
"Mr. Burkman was not found to be there, but signs of someone being there lately were evident," Finch said.
The searches, Finch said, have been conducted on foot and canine(s) have been used.
Monday, he said, a helicopter also was utilized.
During the investigation, Finch said, officers learned Fowler was a resident of St. Peters, who had been "down here the last eight months to a year from what we can determine.
"He was staying at Heaven's Hope Campground off County Road 224 in the Hiram area."
The Wayne County Sheriff's Department, Finch said, received a call at 11:15 a.m. Sunday from a motorist who had driven up on what was reported as an all-terrain vehicle accident on County Road 224 near Highway OO. The location, he said, was near the private campground.
"Upon arriving, my officer observed Mr. Fowler laying face down on the gravel road. Mr. Fowler was found to be deceased," said Finch, who indicated the ATV was within 10 feet of Fowler's body.
Upon checking Fowler's body, Finch said, a gunshot wound was discovered to the man's "upper back area. ... We seen at least three wounds on him."
Additional wounds, Finch said, were found on Fowler's left lower leg and "middle ways of (his) back to the left side."
According to Finch, the wounds were caused by a shotgun.
"He was shot with 00-buck ... at least two rounds," Finch said.
An autopsy performed Monday by Dr. Deidiker at Mineral Area Regional Medical Center in Farmington found Fowler died of the gunshot wound(s) and his manner of death was homicide, Finch said.
Deputies, along with investigators with patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control, interviewed several people throughout the day Sunday and determined that Burkman was the alleged shooter, said Finch, who indicated Burkman has been living in the Lowdnes area.
"He was the main suspect," Finch said. "After further interviews, a warrant was applied for and obtained" for Burkman's arrest.
On Sunday night, Finch said, officers followed up on telephone calls and tips, looking for "him all night. We searched several outbuildings, barns, anywhere he could be hiding where he could stay half-way warm.
"We've been searching all buildings."