Kennett Square, PA – Danelo Cavalcante, the convicted murderer who made headlines with his recent escape, has been recaptured and is now detained in a maximum-security prison.
The Dramatic Capture
Cavalcante’s capture followed a dramatic 14-day manhunt that had residents of Chester County, Pennsylvania, on edge, resulting in school closures and heightened security measures throughout the region.
After being on the run, he was located and apprehended near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday.
New Home: State Correctional Institution Phoenix
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections took custody of Cavalcante around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, promptly placing him in State Correctional Institution Phoenix. This maximum-security prison, located in Montgomery County, is now his new residence.
In an official statement, the department provided a booking photo of Cavalcante in an orange prison uniform. They confirmed his inmate number as QP8931 and stated that he will “serve his mandatory life sentence for first-degree murder.”
A History of Violence
Cavalcante’s escape on August 31 from Chester County Prison in West Chester, Pennsylvania, sent shockwaves through the community. He was originally serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the 2021 first-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao.
His escape was captured on surveillance video, which showed him scaling the prison walls by chimneying up between two walls.
Apart from his existing sentence, Cavalcante also faces murder charges in Brazil dating back to 2017. This Brazilian national’s criminal history is extensive and marked by violent acts.
Intensive Manhunt Leads to Capture
During his time on the run, Cavalcante managed to evade authorities and even armed himself with a rifle equipped with a scope and flashlight.
However, his luck ran out when a burglar alarm was triggered in the search area of Chester County. A Drug Enforcement Agency helicopter, equipped with thermal imaging technology, detected a heat signal.
Around 8 a.m., law enforcement closed in on the heat signal’s location, and Cavalcante was found attempting to crawl through dense brush. He was quickly detained by a police canine, ending the intense two-week manhunt.
Details In Short
- Date: September 14, 2023
- Time: Approximately 8 a.m.
- Location: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA
- Name: Danelo Cavalcante
- Age: 34 years old
- Event: Recapture of escaped convicted murderer
- Prison: State Correctional Institution Phoenix, Montgomery County
- Original Crime: First-degree murder of ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao in 2021
- Escape Date: August 31, 2023
- Escape Method: Scaling prison walls by chimneying up between two walls
- Capture Method: Detected through a burglar alarm and thermal imaging, detained by a police canine
- Additional Charges: Wanted on murder charges in Brazil from 2017
Life Behind Bars
Maria Bivens, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, confirmed that Cavalcante is currently held in solitary confinement and receives out-of-cell treatment services. His meals are served in his cell, mirroring the conditions of other inmates. As part of the prison’s procedures, he will need to submit the necessary paperwork to create an approved visitor and telephone list.
Cavalcante’s recapture brings a sense of relief to Chester County residents and ensures that justice will be served as he serves his life sentence for his heinous crime.
Source: Miami Herald
