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Sam Penrod ReportingA man accused in a string of bombings in Colorado has been arrested right here in Utah. Soon he will be headed back to Colorado. Robert Burke was in court this afternoon and waived extradition back to Colorado. His arrest last night in Orem ends what was a nationwide manhunt for him.
Burke, who is 54-years old and a former air traffic controller, was taken into custody after a tip came in to federal authorities. He was captured behind a Wal-Mart store in Orem last night, with the help of the ATF, Orem Police and the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
Burke apparently has been on the run since March 24th, when five bombs were found in Colorado and three of them exploded. No one was hurt. Authorities are unsure why Burke was in Utah or how long he has been here.
Marvin Richardson, ATF: "We don't know why he chose to come here or anything of that nature. I can tell you that once we had information that he would possibly be here, that that tip led us to the final arrest."
Burke was immediately the prime suspect after the bombs were found. Four of them were planted for managers of the air traffic control company that fired him from his job two years ago at the Grand Junction Airport. The other bomb was found at the home of an FAA official.
Three exploded, the other two were de-fused by the bomb squad.
Burke is also suspected of planting a bomb at the same company in Tennessee.
Burke faces several federal charges of possessing an explosive device and ten years in prison on each count. He should be back in Colorado within the next couple of days.
