Mass. Man Drives To Oakland County, Tries To Kidnap Ex-Girlfriend From 20 Years Ago

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — A Massachusetts man was sentenced to prison Monday for trying to kidnap his former girlfriend from her West Bloomfield home, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.

Damon Burke, 49, of Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, was sentenced to ten years and eight months in prison after he was charged with attempted kidnapping, officials said.

Burke also pleaded guilty to armed robbery in Third Judicial Circuit. He was sentenced to 12 to 25 years in prison for attacking the woman’s roommate, officials said.

Burke admitted in a plea agreement that he drove from Massachusetts to Michigan to try to kidnap his ex-girlfriend, who he hadn't spoken to in about 20 years, on March 23, 2021, according to officials.

Once in Michigan, Burke attacked the woman's roommate and stole the key to their West Bloomfield home, officials said.

Burke then tried to go to the home, but was stopped and arrested by police, who searched Burke's car and found a note to the victim, handcuffs, brass knuckles, zip ties, a stun gun, duct tape, smoke grenades and other kidnapping tools, officials said.

After the attack, the woman told police she ended her relationship with Burke about 20 years ago in New York City because he became violent, officials said.

Burke, however, continuing stalking her and was eventually arrested and convicted of criminal possession of a firearm in New York City in 2002, officials said.

"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," special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office James A. Tarasca said. "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."