Convicted killer Cavalcante, who evaded Pa. State Police for two weeks, is captured – Pennsylvania Capital-Star

The armed convicted murderer who evaded Pennsylvania State Police in Chester County for two weeks was captured Wednesday morning, authorities said. 

Danelo Cavalcante, who was sentenced this month to life in prison for stabbing his girlfriend to death, escaped from Chester County Prison on Aug. 31 by climbing up the narrow space between two walls in the prison exercise yard. 

The search, initially contained to an area within about two miles of the prison, intensified on Saturday after Cavalcante stole a van from a dairy and drove about 20 miles north where he attempted to contact former coworkers.

On Monday night, a South Coventry Township resident reported Cavalcante walked into his garage and stole a .22 caliber rifle. The homeowner reportedly fired several shots at Cavalcante but did not hit him, police said.

Television news showed images from helicopters showing a convoy of state police vehicles transporting Cavalcante to a state police barracks. A news conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

Cavalcante was convicted of stabbing his girlfriend in front of her children. Prosecutors in his trial said Cavalcante killed the Schuylkill Township woman in April 2021 after she threatened to report him to authorities as a suspect in another murder in Brazil.

The manhunt caused roads and schools to be closed as state police, U.S. Marshals, the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection combed wooded subdivisions and fields on the edge of the Philadelphia suburbs.

Police warned residents to keep doors and windows locked and ensure that vehicles and outbuildings were secure after several burglaries were reported in the area where Cavalcante was believed to be hiding.

This story will be updated.

 

Originally published at www.penncapital-star.com,by Peter Hall