Danelo Cavalcante captured nearly two weeks after prison escape

A virtually two-week manhunt for harmful homicide convict Danelo Cavalcante got here to an finish on Wednesday as he was captured in Pennsylvania.

Cavalcante was arrested with out incident shortly after 8am on Wednesday, Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed throughout a press convention.

“I need to say thanks to the general public for his or her vigilance,” Gov Shapiro mentioned. “This has been a troublesome and regarding time. We need to thanks to your help to legislation enforcement and to your help to the efforts that led to this seize.”

The fugitive was discovered hiding inside a shed at a enterprise dealership in Pottstown with the rifle he had beforehand stolen from a house in South Coventry Township, FOX29 experiences. Aerial footage of the seize confirmed dozens of legislation enforcement officers surrounding Cavalcante, who was sporting a gray Eagles hooded sweatshirt and darkish pants.

Officers then cleaned Cavalcante’s bloodied face and escorted him out of the woods and right into a SWAT tactical automobile, the place they proceeded to chop off Cavalcante’s clothes.

On Tuesday evening, a burglar alarm went off at a residence throughout the search perimeter. Deputies responded to the scene however didn’t instantly find Cavalcante.

Then at 1am on Wednesday, thermal imaging from a DEA plane picked up a sign and officers deployed floor forces. The plane had been flying over the perimeter for a number of days however had not efficiently picked up a sign due to excessive temperatures.

Lightening and excessive climate within the early morning hours of Wednesday sophisticated the operation however legislation enforcement secured the perimeter and resumed efforts this morning.

As legislation enforcement closed in on Cavalcante, a Ok-9 unit was launched to immobilise the fugitive. Lt Col George Bivens mentioned that Cavalcante continued to withstand and “crawl away” even after he was surrounded by officers.

Entry limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video

Enroll now for a 30-day free trial

Enroll

Entry limitless streaming of flicks and TV reveals with Amazon Prime Video

Enroll now for a 30-day free trial

Enroll

Mr Bivens mentioned that Cavalcante was taken unexpectedly and didn’t have an opportunity to make use of the rifle he had stolen. Cavalcante sustained a minor chew wound from the Ok-9 in the course of the ordeal.

Chester County District Legal professional Deb Ryan mentioned one of many first calls made following Cavalcante’s escape was to the household of his homicide sufferer Deborah Brandao.

The fugitive was transported to the Avondale barracks, the place he’s being processed. He’ll ultimately be taken to a state correctional facility to serve a life sentence for Brandao’s killing.

“Our nightmare is lastly over and the great guys gained,” Chester County District Legal professional Deb Ryan mentioned. “We by no means misplaced religion that this seize would happen and knew it was only a matter of time.”

Mr Bivens mentioned that Cavalcante sometimes travelled within the late night hours by way of creek beds. The Lt Col mentioned that authorities will interview Cavalcante however no different expenses are anticipated.

For 14 days, Cavalcante managed to elude lots of of legislation enforcement officers, together with tactical groups in full fight gear, monitoring canines, cops on horseback and on plane. Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens had credited Cavalcante’s upbringing in rural Brazil for his capability to cover within the huge wooded terrains in Chester County.

The jailbreak on 31 August sparked concern amongst residents of the county’s suburbs, who had been urged to maintain their houses safe following a collection of break-ins believed to be linked to Cavalcante. On 11 September, fears reached a fever pitch as Cavalcante stole a gun from a storage.

Cavalcante managed to get ahold of clothes, meals, and even stole a van that he used to drive greater than 25 miles from his authentic hiding spot in Longwood Gardens. He was noticed a number of instances all through the 14-day ordeal and the sightings repeatedly pressured legislation enforcement to broaden their search perimeter and prompted three college districts and a preferred botanical backyard to shut.

All through his escape, Cavalcante confirmed up on the house of two former associates looking for assist. The sightings helped legislation enforcement zero in on the world the place Cavalcante was finally discovered.

Final month, Cavalcante was sentenced to life for murdering his ex-girlfriend in April 2021.

Cavalcante stabbed Brandao 40 instances in entrance of her kids after which went on the run earlier than he was captured in Virginia. In Brazil, prosecutors in Tocantins state have additionally accused Cavalcante of “double certified murder” within the 2017 slaying of Válter Júnior Moreira dos Reis in Figueirópolis, which they mentioned was over a debt the sufferer owed him for repairing a automobile.

Cavalcante started his escape at round 8.50am on 31 August whereas different inmates within the train yard performed basketball. He stretched his physique to suit the size of a hallway and “crab-walked” onto the roof.

Cavalcante then climbed over razor wire and jumped from the roof. It was solely practically an hour later that correction officers realised an inmate was lacking throughout a head depend.

Chester County Jail performing warden Howard Holland mentioned that Cavalcante’s jailbreak was much like one other inmate’s escape again in Might. Throughout that incident, a tower officer instantly reported the scenario to jail workers and the inmate was apprehended inside minutes.

The officer tasked with surveilling the world throughout Cavalcante’s escape didn’t report the incident. He has since been fired and his efficiency in the course of the escape is being investigated by the state legal professional’s workplace.