Sunday, December 22, 2024

Manhunt for Convicted Killer in Pennsylvania Finally Over After 14 Days

Danelo Cavalcante, the 34-year-old convicted murderer, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend in 2021, was finally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on August 31. Cavalcante has led a life of crime according to the evidence, and he is also wanted in his home country, Brazil for homicide. But it was here in the United States, that he was finally captured after stabbing and ultimately killing his former girlfriend.

However, not even a month has passed after Cavalcante was finally sentenced on August 16, when he escaped from Chester County prison in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania last August 31. According to the investigation, he had climbed up a wall to get to the roof and pushed through razor wire to get away from the prison. Cavalcante was noticed missing after the allotted exercise timer for inmates was finished and all of the prisoners in the correction facility were ushered inside.

The method and escape route he took weren’t original. He followed what Igor Vedra Bolte did to break out from prison on May 19 of this year. The prison officials were quick to launch an investigation which turned into a manhunt for a Cavalcante.

According to the investigation made inside the prison, there are two different factors that made Cavalcante’s escape successful. Howard Holland, acting warden of Chester county prison stated that, “in Bolte’s escape, the tower officer observed the subject, leaving the yard area and contacted control immediately. That is why Bolte was apprehended within five minutes… In the escape of Cavalcante, the tower officer did not observe nor report the escape. The escape was discovered as part of the inmate counts that occur when the inmates come in from the exercise yard.“

Actions were immediately taken and the corrections officer that was on duty at the guard tower, when Cavalcante escaped was subsequently fired. However, it seemed a little too late since the convicted murderer was able to roam free.

Danelo Cavalcante
Danelo Cavalcante getting escorted by Police. Screengrab from video of the Associated Press

Citizens were concerned about the news that a killer was walking the streets. They had reason to fear because authority said that Cavalcante was able to steal a 22 caliber rifle from a random home he barged into. He was spotted multiple times since his escape in different areas.

The most recent time of his appearance in public was on Tuesday night. The police were quick to warn residents that he was seen around South Coventry Township, Chester County, and he was armed and dangerous. However, the weather conditions prevented the authorities from seizing him then and there.

But just this morning, the Pennsylvania State Police said that Danilo Cavalcante was finally re-captured after 14 days of manhunt around the county. It is unclear yet if the convicted killer will be transferred to another prison, but rest assured, the prison officers will have their eyes on him.

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