Convicted murderer and fugitive Danelo Souza Cavalcante, aged 34, has been apprehended, putting an end to an almost two-week-long manhunt. His escape from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania occurred on August 31, when he managed to climb the exercise wall. See the escape video here
By the time officials initiated a lockdown, he had nearly an hour's head start.
During a press conference on Wednesday morning to announce his arrest, authorities revealed that they detected a heat signal early in the morning, which they tracked. However, inclement weather, including lightning, forced a law enforcement aircraft to back off temporarily.
Around 8 a.m., tactical units gradually moved into the area. Cavalcante remained unaware of his surroundings until it was too late. He attempted to evade capture by crawling through underbrush while in possession of a stolen rifle.
Law enforcement deployed a K-9 unit, which subdued the fugitive. Despite his resistance, authorities forcibly took him into custody. Cavalcante sustained a minor bite wound, which was examined by medical personnel.
Picture Source - Reuters
Cavalcante was considered dangerous and desperate due to the nature of his previous conviction. He had recently been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murder of his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandão, aged 33, in Schuylkill Township.
The murder occurred in front of Brandão's two children, aged 7 and 4. Cavalcante stabbed her 38 times, targeting vital organs such as the heart, kidney, lungs, and liver.
Investigators discovered that he had a history of physically abusing Brandão and had threatened to kill her. The motive for the homicide was Brandão's intention to report Cavalcante's open murder warrant in Brazil.
Sarah Brandão, Deborah's sister, described Cavalcante as controlling and violently jealous during their relationship. The manhunt for Cavalcante was marked by several sightings, including surveillance and trail camera footage. He also stole a van but abandoned it, presumably due to fuel issues.
The situation escalated when he stole a scoped rifle from a homeowner's garage.
Cavalcante's capture brings closure to the search for an individual responsible for what prosecutors characterized as an extremely heinous murder.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan stated at the time of his sentencing, "The defendant committed the most heinous crime imaginable by taking another human life. Not only did he butcher Deborah Brandão to death with 38 stab wounds on virtually every vital organ, he did this in front of her two young children who will have to live with that horrific trauma for the rest of their lives.
We are very grateful to everyone who assisted with this case, including our outstanding Chester County Detectives, Schuylkill Township Police Department, our prosecutors, and crime victim advocate for their persistence in seeking justice for Ms. Brandão and her family.
Meanwhile in Chicago, two men who were out on bail for gun-related charges when they unleashed a hail of gunfire on a car, injuring two individuals, have received 15-year prison sentences. See detailed story here.
Comments
Post a Comment