On Wednesday morning, Pennsylvania State Police announced that the convicted murderer who had escaped a Pennsylvania prison nearly two weeks ago had been taken into custody, putting an end to a manhunt that had caused fear in the surrounding community. Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan expressed relief, stating, “Our nightmare is finally over.” The capture of Danilo Cavalcante involved a thrilling sequence of events including the use of an aircraft, a lightning storm, and a police dog, with more than 20 tactical officers participating in the operation.
The capture began when an aircraft flying above the search area detected a heat signal on the ground around 1 a.m. However, the stormy weather and lightning forced the aircraft to retreat. Nevertheless, a tactical team of officers secured the area and waited until morning. It was during this time that Cavalcante was found sleeping, laying on top of a rifle that he had stolen. When officers surprised him, he attempted to escape by crawling through dense underbrush while holding the rifle. Fortunately, a police dog intervened and bit Cavalcante, preventing him from using the weapon. With the help of the dog, officers successfully apprehended him. Cavalcante showed defiance and resistance during the capture, and the dog left him with a scalp wound. The police released a video showing Cavalcante in handcuffs, being escorted by heavily armed officers into an armored vehicle, with blood on his face. Several officers even posed for pictures with the fugitive and the rifle. Luckily, no one was injured in the operation.
During his time on the run, Cavalcante resorted to desperate measures to survive, including eating a watermelon he found at a farm and drinking stream water. According to Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US marshal for Pennsylvania’s eastern district, Cavalcante had actively avoided capture, remaining hidden in a secluded and heavily wooded area. Clark mentioned that Cavalcante did not move for the first couple of days after his escape. Cavalcante had been serving a life sentence for the first-degree murder of his former girlfriend, Deborah Brandão, and had stabbed her 38 times in front of her children.
The manhunt for Cavalcante lasted nearly two weeks and began when he escaped from Chester County Prison on August 31. Video footage of the escape showed him climbing the fence and wall in a “crab-walking” motion before slipping through the razor wire. He was eventually caught with the intention of fleeing to Mexico and then Brazil, his native country. Additionally, Cavalcante is wanted in connection with a 2017 homicide case in Brazil.
Cavalcante’s capture brought relief to the community of South Coventry Township, where the prison escape had disrupted lives. Approximately 500 law enforcement officers, including various agencies, had established a perimeter in the wooded area. During the hunt, Cavalcante managed to evade police multiple times, even hiding so closely to officers that he claimed they nearly stepped on him. The search was particularly difficult due to the thick vegetation and foliage. Reverse 911 calls were sent to residents warning them of the danger and advising them to secure their homes.
Following his capture, Cavalcante was transported to the state police barracks in Avondale and later transferred to the State Correctional Institution – Phoenix. He is now serving his life sentence for first-degree murder. Cavalcante has been charged with felony escape, and his bail has been denied. An arraignment took place, and he is expected to have a preliminary hearing on September 27. At this time, no attorney has been listed for Cavalcante.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry commended the hundreds of searchers who were dedicated to the mission, stating that the outcome of Cavalcante’s capture was the best possible, with no harm caused to residents or law enforcement officers involved. Henry praised their determination despite the challenges they faced throughout the search.
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