A 34-year-old Brazilian citizen, Danelo Cavalcante, was recently convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the tragic death of his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao in April 2021. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for this crime. Unfortunately, the murder happened in front of Brandao's children, who were traumatized witnesses.
Notably, Cavalcante is also wanted in connection with another murder in Brazil. Throughout the extensive manhunt that involved hundreds of law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies, he was consistently described as "extremely dangerous."
The two-week search for the convicted killer who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison finally ended Wednesday. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed Cavalcante's arrest in a press conference. The arrest occurred shortly after 8 a.m., orchestrated by the tactical team leading the manhunt, with no shots fired during the operation.
Cavalcante was found in a wooded area within police limits. According to a source close to the police, he was arrested without incident. He was seen wearing a Philadelphia Eagles sweater. The arrest came after a heat signature was detected overnight in northern West Chester County, where tactical teams had converged.
Interestingly, Cavalcante's discovery occurred after a "burglar alarm" went off at a residential area in the belt around midnight. Police did not find him or anyone else there, but the heat signature that led to his arrest was detected nearby after 1 a.m. A new perimeter was then established around the location as the manhunt continued on Wednesday morning. This allows the tactical team to approach quietly and with an element of surprise.
Cavalcante attempted to flee by moving through the bushes while carrying a rifle. He was eventually subdued by a police dog and arrested after resisting arrest. During his arrest, Cavalcante suffered a minor bite but no other injuries were reported. After his arrest, he was taken to the Avondale Police Department for questioning before being booked into SCI Phoenix, a high-security state prison, Wednesday afternoon in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Lieutenant Colonel Bivens said he was pleased with the success of the manhunt, stressing the importance of preventing anyone from being harmed in the process. Governor Shapiro also acknowledged the community's concerns during his morning press conference and reassured them that Cavalcante was arrested without shots being fired.
Before his arrest, it was reported that Cavalcante had stolen a rifle from a garage in Chester County and escaped gunfire from the owner as he fled. This incident occurred on August 31, when Cavalcante, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2021, escaped from the Chester County Jail in West Chester. His escape route included climbing a wall to reach the roof, the same method another prisoner, Igor Bolte, had used in a previous escape. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office is investigating Cavalcante's escape, which has raised questions about security measures at the prison.
Governor Shapiro expressed concerns about prison security and hinted at potential consequences for anyone who may have helped Cavalcante during his escape. The jail has taken steps to enhance security, including hiring security contractors to make permanent modifications to exercise classes as well as reviewing and adjusting procedures related to physical exercises.
During the manhunt, Cavalcante was spotted multiple times in and around Chester County, leading to school closures and shelter-in-place orders in the area. Initially, the search focused on a forested area near Longwood Gardens, which also contained a complex network of underground tunnels.
The search effort intensified when Cavalcante was allegedly seen by a driver on the side of the road near Route 100. However, it disappeared before the driver could confirm the sighting. Mud prints matching the soles of Cavalcante's prison shoes were discovered and traces of the discarded shoes were traced. At the same time, a homeowner reported a pair of work boots stolen from his front porch.
That evening, another homeowner reported that a man entered his garage and stole a .22 calibre rifle. The homeowner shot the fleeing intruder, believed to be Cavalcante. When law enforcement arrived, they found a green sweater and a white T-shirt in the driveway, both believed to belong to Cavalcante based on previous surveillance footage.
In short, the capture of Danelo Cavalcante marks the end of an intense manhunt. His escape raised questions about the security measures taken at the Chester County Jail, but immediate steps were taken to increase security. Cavalcante's arrest brought relief to a community that had been anxious during the search.
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