Escaped Killer Captured

Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was caught yesterday by Pennsylvania police after evading officials for two weeks, during which he broke into homes and altered his appearance. The 34-year-old Brazilian inmate had escaped from Chester County Prison 30 miles west of Philadelphia after scaling two close walls in a corner of an outside exercise area and reaching the roof (see video).

Cavalcante, armed with a stolen .22 caliber gun, was found lying in a wooded area near a John Deere tractor dealership on the outer perimeter of a nearly 10-square-mile search zone. Police discovered him using a thermal imaging camera on a Drug Enforcement Administration aircraft. Cavalcante tried to escape from tactical units at the scene by crawling through underbrush but was subdued by a K-9 police dog, who bit his head. See a visual dive detailing his escape and capture here.

Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison last month for murdering his ex-girlfriend in front of her two children in 2021; he is also wanted for homicide in Brazil.

Photo: Danelo Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison on August 22 for the murder of Deborah Brandao, 33. (INSTAGRAM via @DeborahBrandao123