Man convicted for going to Michigan to kidnap ex-girlfriend from 20 years ago

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. — A man has been convicted for going to Michigan to kidnap his ex-girlfriend from 20 years ago.

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According to a news release from the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan, Damon Burke, 49, from Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 128 months which is over 10 years for attempted kidnapping.

On March 23, 2021, Burke admitted in a plea agreement that he had attempted to kidnap his ex-girlfriend from 20 years ago whom he had not spoken to recently. According to the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan, Burke had stalked her and put her in the back of a car without her consent after their relationship ended, which led to his conviction of criminal possession of a firearm in New York back in 2002.

As of March 2021, Burke had continued to harass her and even drove from Massachusetts to Michigan, assaulted her roommate and tried to steal a key, according to WJBK.

He was later stopped by police but refused to speak with them. However, officers located an envelope with the victim’s name on it. WJBK said that inside the envelope was a letter that read, “I’ll come back to you.” Officers made the connection to the victim and his previous crime, impounded his car and went through it.

Inside the car, officers found a stun gun, and a variety of tools that included zip ties, handcuffs, smoke grenades and other items in addition to the note, the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan said.

“This conviction is a result of a joint effort between local and federal law enforcement to apprehend our most violent offenders and hold them accountable. The swift action of law enforcement at the outset of this case surely prevented what could have been a far more serious crime. And the offender’s sentence will serve to protect the victim and our community going forward,” said United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison, in a news release.

“Mr. Burke terrorized his victims both physically and emotionally, and while that harm cannot be undone, today’s sentence is a first step towards getting justice,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, in a news release. “We are grateful to the Northville and West Bloomfield Police Departments for working alongside the FBI to pursue those who seek to harm members of our community.”

According to the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Michigan news release, Burke has also pleaded guilty in the Third Judicial Circuit Court to armed robbery and assaulting the victim’s roommate for a 12-year to 25-year sentence.

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