UPDATED: 10:53 a.m., Wednesday:
The two-week search for convicted murder Danelo Cavalcante concluded Wednesday in a rural region of Chester County, roughly an hour drive from Bucks County.
State police said the pursuit intensified Tuesday evening following a burglary alarm in the search area. While the alarm itself was unfounded, it directed authorities to scour the area, both on land and from the air.
A report from North Penn Now, based on a source, detailed that during the early hours of Wednesday, a law enforcement aircraft detected a heat signature. This discovery led authorities straight to Cavalcante’s location.
State police verified the account, stating that a Drug Enforcement Agency aircraft equipped with thermal sensors identified a human figure. However, due to stormy conditions, the aircraft had to land temporarily. Once the weather stabilized, specialized teams were dispatched to area and began an intense search.
While navigating dense underbrush, a police canine from the U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s tactical unit pinpointed Cavalcante and subdued him.
Upon Cavalcante’s arrest, the .22-caliber rifle investigators said he stole on Monday night was located nearby, according to state police.
Troopers confirmed that Cavalcante was arrested by federal agents from Texas and a Pennsylvania State Police tactical squad.
Upon his capture, Cavalcante, donning a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt, had minor injuries and appeared bloodied. Medical teams evaluated him post-arrest, said state police.
State police Lt. Col. George Bivens, the lead on the operation, expressed relief at the safe conclusion of the manhunt.
“It is a true pleasure to stand here this morning and talk to all of you about bringing this manhunt to a successful conclusion without getting anyone else hurt,” said Bivens.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan simply said, “The good guys won.”
Col. Christopher Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, commended Chester County’s community for their cooperation.
Governor Josh Shapiro expressed gratitude towards local, state, and federal law enforcement for their dedication.
“Thank God there were no injuries to law enforcement or the public,” Shaprio said.
Collaboration between local and federal units, including Bucks County police, played a pivotal role in the manhunt’s success, state police said.
Bivens, known for overseeing high-profile searches in Pennsylvania, hinted at possible additional charges for Cavalcante’s escape.
In response to questions from reporters regarding the search’s duration, Bivens defended the efforts of law enforcement and pointed to the capture of the killer.
The arrest occured two weeks after Cavalcante’s escape. Hundreds of officers participated in the search.
Cavalcante was convicted last month for the murder of an ex-girlfriend in Chester County. The BBC reported he is also a suspect in a 2017 Brazilian murder case.
Authorities will transfer Cavalcante to a state correctional facility.
Details surrounding his escape from Chester County Prison indicated he imitated a prior inmate’s escape method, which involved climbing a wall, bypassing razor wire, and leaving via the rooftop.
Original Story:
By Keith Heffintrayer & Tom Sofield | North Penn Now & NewtownPANow.com
Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante was captured Wednesday morning in or around South Coventry Township in Chester County, according to news partner North Penn Now.
An official, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media, told North Penn Now that an aircraft picked up a heat signature during the overnight hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, which allowed law enforcement to zero in on Cavalcante’s position and take him into custody.
KYW has also confirmed Cavalcante is in custody.
A law enforcement source told LevittownNow.com, NewtownPANow.com, and NewHopeFreePress.com that Pennsylvania State Police and a federal tactical team had Cavalcante, 34, in custody shortly after 8 a.m.
Footage from Fox 29 showed Cavalcante in police custody and being loaded into an armored Lenco Bearcat truck once he was in custody.
Cavalcante was walking under his own power, appeared to have a wound on his head, and was wearing an Eagles’ shirt after he was taken into custody. He was wrapped in a blanket by law enforcement before being transported from the scene.
A law enforcement source said the rifle Cavalcante is alleged to have stolen Monday night was recovered.
The capture came two weeks after the convict fled from prison. The manhunt has involved hundreds of local, state, and federal law enforcement officials.
A press conference will be held at 9:30 a.m., according to a release from the Pennsylvania State Police.
Cavalcante was recently found guilty of murdering his former girlfriend in Chester County and is wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil, according to the BBC.
Cavalcante’s escape from the Chester County Prison involved scaling a wall, moving past razor wire, and exiting through the rooftop. Officials believe he might have replicated an escape technique used by another inmate from the same facility.
This is a breaking news story. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
