SOUTH COVENTRY TOWNSHIP, PA – After nearly two weeks on the run, convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was captured in a joint operation by the Pennsylvania State Police and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
The capture came as a result of an alarm triggered at a residence near Prizer Road and Pottstown Pike in South Coventry Township. A DEA plane in the vicinity detected a heat signal, believed to be Cavalcante. Tactical teams swiftly converged on the location, finding Cavalcante attempting to crawl away. He was surrounded and apprehended without any shots being fired.
Cavalcante’s escape from Chester County Prison on August 31 had put the community on high alert. He managed to break free by “crab-walking” up two walls in the exercise yard, navigating through razor wire, and sprinting across a roof. The escape went unnoticed by a watchtower officer, who has since been dismissed.
The subsequent manhunt was extensive, involving multiple sightings of Cavalcante, who had changed his appearance and even stolen a rifle from a local homeowner. Residents were advised to stay indoors, lock their doors, and remain vigilant.
Before his dramatic escape, Cavalcante had been sentenced to life without parole for the brutal murder of Deborah Brandao in 2021. He had stabbed her 38 times in front of her two young children. Following his escape, his defense sought a new trial or sentence, but these requests were swiftly denied by the court. Additionally, Cavalcante had an outstanding warrant for a murder case in Brazil, from where he had previously fled to the U.S.
The capture brought immense relief to the Chester County community. The family of Deborah Brandao expressed their gratitude to law enforcement and stated that they can “finally sleep again.” The extensive manhunt had left many residents on edge, with some schools even closing as a precaution.
Cavalcante was taken to the Avondale state police station for questioning. He will be transferred to a state correctional facility where he will serve his life sentence.
