Convicted Woodridge Carjacker Gets 40 Years in Absentia

Former nuclear engineer Michael Buhrman, 32, of Coal City, was sentenced in absentia to 40 years in prison on Wednesday for the May 2012 aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm of a woman’s car in a Kohl’s parking lot in eastern Woodridge near the Darien border.

According to a DuPage County State’s Attorney press release, once apprehended, Buhrman would be required to serve at least 50 percent of the sentence. He was convicted in mid-April, also in absentia, after a 45-minute jury deliberation. 

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. 

“Seeking a cheap thrill, Michael Buhrman stole an innocent woman’s car by pointing a loaded weapon at her head,” DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “I am confident that even though Mr. Buhrman’s current whereabouts remain unknown at this time, he will ultimately be taken into custody to begin serving his sentence. 

“I would like to thank the Woodridge Police Department, particularly Sergeant Tom Stefanson and Detective Jody Porras, for their outstanding police work and quick apprehension of Mr. Buhrman.” 

On May 9, 2012, prosecutors have 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28, the device was found in an abandoned home in Coal City after a tampering alert was sent to authorities; Buhrman had withdrawn $14,000 from his bank account three days earlier.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.

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