A suspect wanted for a Hancock County murder last year was found in Pearl River County.

Michael H. Burks was found on Wednesday, at about 2:42 a.m. after Hancock County officials asked Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department to check on an address for them, said Chief Investigator Maj. Shane Tucker.

Deputies found Burks at 265 Burgetown Rd., early that morning. He was taken into custody without incident for a warrant, Tucker said. He was turned over to Hancock County Sheriff’s Department.

The warrant was issued because Burks was scheduled to show up for an arraignment hearing for the shotgun shooting death of Clifford Joiner, 42, on July 18, 2007. When Burks failed to show for that hearing a warrant was issued for his arrest. Burks, 63 at the time, was charged for the murder of Joiner and issued a $20,000 bond.

Burks was suspected to be a former resident of Pearl River County, with a last known address of 38 Virgil Lewis Rd., Carriere, according to Circuit Clerk records.