As manhunt shifts to Longwood Gardens, Delaware ready if prisoner crosses state lines
As the search for a Pennsylvania convicted killer enters its ninth day, Delaware State Police stand at the ready should Danelo Cavalcante cross state lines.
“We are currently maintaining communication with (Pennsylvania State Police) in order to remain informed and up-to-date on relevant developments,” Delaware Police spokesperson India Sturgis said. “We are staying vigilant and have established a comprehensive strategy in the event Cavalcante enters Delaware.”
Since Cavalcante’s escape from Chester County prison on Aug. 31, hundreds of law enforcement have flooded the southeastern section of the Pennsylvania county in search of the 34-year-old who “spider” walked up a narrow corridor wall in the county prison’s exercise yard, evaded recently installed razor wire and broke out.
Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison without parole for stabbing 33-year-old Deborah Brandao to death in 2021 while her 7-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son were present. He was awaiting transfer to a state facility when he escaped.
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Officials said the search boundary, which has remained largely unchanged since Cavalcante’s escape, shifted slightly west on Friday centering on the over 1,000 acres of Longwood Gardens. The gardens are a horticultural venue about 5 miles from the county prison and on the border of Pennsylvania and Delaware state lines and has been closed due to the manhunt.
Another confirmed sighting of Cavalcante Thursday helped focus search crews back around the area of Longwood Gardens. The southern search perimeter at Hillendale Road is roughly five miles from the Delaware state border.
The search boundary is about an 8-10 mile radius framed by Route 926 (State Road) to the north, Hillendale Road to the south, Route 52 North to the west and Creek Road (Historic Route 100) to the east.
Delaware police assist in manhunt
Though Delaware police are on standby, Sturgis said the department helped with aviation last weekend and its Canine Unit filled in when Pennsylvania Police K-9 Loki suffered heat exhaustion Tuesday.
Loki was hospitalized after spending too much time outside in the heat.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Adam Reed said there have been no other heat-related incidents since then.
"We're very thankful for the public dropping off large supplies of water for us," he said. "We're ensuring our folks and canines stay extremely hydrated, well fed, and ensuring that everyone has enough breaks."
Police said the dog was released from the hospital Thursday morning and is expected to make a full recovery. Loki should be able to return to work next week.
Police are searching the area on foot, horseback, from above and with the help of K-9 tracking dogs. A "big contingent from the FBI and border patrol" joined the search Friday, Reed added.
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Delaware helicopter crashes during 1999 assist in PA manhunt
Delaware police have previously assisted Pennsylvania authorities in the search of prison escapees — and at least one time crashed a state police helicopter in the process.
When quadruple murderer Norman Johnston escaped from a Pennsylvania prison in August 1999, he headed to familiar territory: Chester County, Pennsylvania; Cecil County, Maryland, and New Castle County.
Police agencies from these states began working together to capture Johnston as he was being spotted in these areas.
A Delaware fugitive task force received word Johnston was hiding in a home in Hartly — a small town west of Dover.
In the early hours of Aug. 17 of that year, state police's new helicopter was instructed to go to the Dover area where it was supposed to land and wait for a call from investigators hunting the fugitive. The helicopter had been working as an air ambulance, which is why authorities asked for that craft.
"They specifically requested that helicopter because they wanted the medic on board," a police spokesman explained to the newspaper back then.
The $2.2 million helicopter was on its way to Dover when it encountered fog and crashed in a soybean field near the Sussex County Airport, now named the Delaware Coastal Airport.
The pilot suffered minor injuries, while the medic walked away uninjured. The two were able to get out of the craft and walk about a half-mile to the state police hanger at the airport and call 911.
The report that Johnston had been hiding in Hartly turned out to be untrue.
Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square unaffected by manhunt
Just a few miles west of the search area, Kennett Square is preparing to welcome visitors to its 38th Annual Mushroom Festival this weekend, Sept. 8-9.
“We’re working very hard to capture the escaped convict and not allow him to go anywhere,” state police’s Bivens said. “We are well aware of that festival and we are working with a number of authorities to try and make sure that people feel very safe at that festival.”
Festival organizers did not respond to requests for comment.
Esteban Parra contributed to this story.
Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or call or text at 302-598-5507. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Chester County manhunt: Focus shifts back to Longwood Gardens
