Fugitive Masked Carjacker Convicted in Absentia

A jury has convicted in absentia former nuclear engineer Michael Buhrman, 32, of Coal City, of a class-X felony for the May 2012 aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm of a woman’s car in a Kohl’s parking lot in Woodridge.

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Buhrman, who removed a GPS monitoring device in September 2012 and jumped bail, remains a fugitive. DuPage County prosecutors believe that he may have fled the country. A no-bond arrest warrant remains active for him.

The jury deliberated for just 45 minutes before returning their guilty verdict to Judge Kathryn Creswell, a DuPage County State’s Attorney office release said.

“Nearly one year ago, Michael Buhrman pointed a loaded weapon at an innocent woman’s head and stole her car just for the thrill of it,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin said in a statement.

“Seven months ago, Mr. Buhrman fled in an attempt to avoid responsibility for his actions. I would like to thank the jury for holding Mr. Buhrman responsible for his actions as well as Judge Creswell for ensuring that both sides received a fair trial in this case despite the absence of the defendant.”

On May 9, 2012, prosecutors said, wearing a high-quality latex mask, Buhrman approached a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am parked near Kohl's, 1001 75th St. in Woodridge, being driven by one Carrie Bradley. The man pointed a loaded .45-caliber handgun at Bradley’s chin, demanded her car keys and sped away.

Buhrman was later arrested by Woodridge police, who said they also recovered the mask, a two-way radio and the gun.

At the time, Buhrman was working as a licensed senior reactor operator at a nuclear power plant in Morris. He is also a Navy veteran. After his arrest, Buhrman, told authorities that stealing the car was a "stupid thing" to do and he was only "thrill seeking."

Buhrman posted the 10 percent of his $200,000 bond necessary to apply, and was released from custody with a GPS monitoring device attached on May 11, having surrendered his passport. On September 28, the device was found in an abandoned home in Coal City after a tampering alert was sent to authorities; Buhrman had withdrawn $14,000 from his bank account three days earlier.

Buhrman has forfeited his entire $200,000 bond and remains a wanted fugitive. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Woodridge Police Department or the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Editor's note: This article was written by Darren McRoy.