Danelo Cavalcante charged with escape after two week manhunt
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(WHTM) — Danelo Cavalcante, the convicted murderer who escaped from Chester County Prison, has been arrested and charged with one count of felony escape after a two week manhunt.
Cavalcante was taken into custody alive around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning with no shots fired, according to Governor Josh Shapiro. According to court records published Wednesday afternoon, Cavalcante is charged with one count of felony escape in the third degree.
It’s possible Cavalcante could face more charges, however, he was already sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 27 and bail was denied. An attorney was not listed for Cavalcante on court records.
According to the Department of Corrections, as of 3 p.m., Cavalcante is being housed at SCI Phoenix, a maximum-security prison in Montgomery County.
State Police say officials responded to a residential alarm in the containment area around midnight but did not find Cavalcante. A helicopter then picked up a heat source, but had to be grounded due to weather.
Early Wednesday morning law enforcement moved in and a dog, K9 Yoda from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, was able to subdue Cavalcante, who State Police say attempted to evade police by crawling under brush with a rifle west of PA Route 100.
The arrest was made by a combination of State Police and Border Patrol.
Cavalcante suffered a bite wound from the dog but not other injuries were reported. Cavalcante was taken to the State Police Avondale station for processing after his arrest. Photos showed him being taken out of the Avondale station wearing a hospital gown after being arrested in a Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt.
Law enforcement officers escort Danelo Cavalcante from a Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Avondale Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) TOPSHOT – A photograph taken by law enforcement after the apprehension of escapee Danelo Cavalcante is displayed at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company in Unionville, PA on September 13, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) A law enforcement officer carries a weapon into the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Avondale Pa., where Danelo Cavalcante is being held on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens speaks to the media along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (C) speaks to the media at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens speaks to the media along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks to the media at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Law enforcement agents stand by as Danelo Souza Cavalcante sits inside an armored vehicle at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Avondale Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Law enforcement agents stand by as Danelo Souza Cavalcante sits inside an armored vehicle at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Avondale Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Law enforcement agents stand by as Danelo Souza Cavalcante sits inside an armored vehicle at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Avondale Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens speaks to the media along with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks to the media at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania, on 13 September, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan speaks to the media at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company after the capture of inmate Danelo Cavalcante in Unionville, Pennsylvania on September 13, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images)
‘Today is a great day here in Chester County, said Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “Our nightmare is over and the good guys won.”
State Police say people intended to assist Cavalcante, but they do not believe he received that help.
“This was an exhaustive search for an extremely violent and dangerous man that ended with the best possible outcome – the escapee’s capture without physical harm to residents or the brave officers who tracked him down,” Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “I commend the hundreds of searchers who were laser-focused in their mission, and did not flinch at the challenges they endured along the way.”
Henry says Cavalcante is expected to be arraigned on the felony escape charge, which was filed on Aug. 31. The Office of the Attorney General will handle the investigation and prosecution regarding Cavalcante’s escape from Chester County Prison.
KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 9: Police with rifles monitor a wooded perimeter on day 10 of a manhunt for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante on September 9, 2023 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison on August 31. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Law enforcement officers ride by a roadblock as the search for escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante continues in Pottstown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 10: Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police briefs the media on developments in the manhunt for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante at Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company on September 10, 2023 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison on August 31 and remains at large as the 11 day manhunt continues. Photographs of Cavalcante taken on the night of September 9 from a door camera are displayed as Bivens speaks. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 9: Police with rifles monitor a wooded perimeter in the rain on day 10 of a manhunt for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante on September 9, 2023 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison on August 31. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) KENNETT SQUARE, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 08: A State Police helicopter hovers over the perimeter of a search zone for an escaped prisoner on September 08, 2023 in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Law officers, tactical teams, cops on horseback, tracking dogs, and aircraft are all searching for Danelo Souza Cavalcante, a 34-year-old from Brazil, who escaped from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Law enforcement officers continue the search for escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Glenmoore, Pa., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) The search continues for Danelo Cavalcante in Pocopson Township, Pa., on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Murderer Cavalcante was able to escape a prison yard in suburban Pennsylvania last week by climbing up a wall and over razor wire, officials said at a news conference Wednesday. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Incident Command Center Where PA State Troopers, US Border Patrol, Chester County Emergency Management, and FBI collaborate on the intergovernmental manhunt searching for escaped inmate Danelo Cavalcante, at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, in Unionville, Pa., Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Heavily armed law enforcement officers move along Rt. 52 as the search continues for Danelo Cavalcante in Pocopson Township, Pa., on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County Prison. Cavalcante was able to escape a prison yard in suburban Pennsylvania last week by climbing up a wall and over razor wire, officials said at a news conference Wednesday. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) Pennsylvania State police search the woods and a creek in Pennsbury Township, Pa., on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023. Murderer Danelo Cavalcante was able to escape a prison yard in suburban Pennsylvania last week by climbing up a wall and over razor wire, officials said at a news conference Wednesday. (Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Cavalcante’s escape from the prison on August 31 was caught on video that showed him crab walking up prison walls, after which State Police say he pushed through razor wire and climbed on to the roof.
Cavalcante was convicted of murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2021. He is also wanted in for a separate murder in Brazil. He escaped from Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to state prison.
Police believed they had closed in on Cavalcante on Monday evening, after they say he stole a rifle from a garage. The homeowner encountered Cavalcante and fired at him, but police did not believe he was injured.
This photo provided by the Chester County Prison shows Danelo Cavalcante. Cavalcante, convicted this month of fatally stabbing his girlfriend escaped Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 from the suburban Philadelphia prison and prosecutors say he is also wanted in his native Brazil in a separate slaying. (Chester County Prison via AP) This photo provided by the Chester County, Pa., District Attorney’s Office shows escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante. Cavalcante, who was recently convicted of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, escaped Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, from a suburban Philadelphia prison and prosecutors say he is also wanted in his native Brazil in a separate slaying. (Chester County District Attorney’s Office via AP) This photo provided by Chester County Prison shows CCTV footage of prison inmate Danelo Cavalcante escaping from Chester County prison on Aug. 31, 2023. Cavalcante received a life sentence last month for killing his ex-girlfriend in front of her children in 2021. He escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison. (Chester County Prison via AP) This image provided by the Pennsylvania State Police shows Danelo Cavalcante. The escaped murderer on the run for more than a week in southeast Pennsylvania has been spotted with what police called “a changed appearance.” Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 that Danelo Souza Cavalcante was seen overnight near Phoenixville in northern Chester County. (Pennsylvania State Police via AP) TOPSHOT – A photograph taken by law enforcement after the apprehension of escapee Danelo Cavalcante is displayed at a press conference held at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company in Unionville, PA on September 13, 2023. US police announced the capture of a convicted Brazilian murderer who caught national attention with his daring prison escape and two weeks on the run. (Photo by RYAN COLLERD / AFP) (Photo by RYAN COLLERD/AFP via Getty Images) Law enforcement officers escort Danelo Cavalcante from a Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Avondale Pa., on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cavalcante was captured Wednesday after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Mugshot of Danelo Cavalcante, courtesy of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
The search for Cavalcante consisted of law enforcement agencies including Pennsylvania State Police, Border Patrol, FBI, U.S. Marshals, ATF, Chester County District Attorney’s office, and agencies from Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, and Bucks Counties.
The full press conference from Wednesday morning can be watched below:
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