Tactical teams from the Pennsylvania State Police and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol captured escaped nurderer Danelo Cavalcante as he lay in a wooded area of South Coventry Township on Wednesday morning.
Escaped Murderer Captured by Pennsylvania State Police and CBP
Still armed with a .22 caliber rifle stolen from a homeowner's garage this week, Cavalcante tried to crawl away through the brush and escape from the tactical units closing in, officials said. Then a K-9 bit him and held him down.
by Staff
September 13, 2023
Escaped nurderer Danelo Cavalcante is led away by tactical officers. He was captured Wednesday after more than two weeks on the run.
Credit:
Pennsylvania State Police/Twitter
The capture ended a manhunt for Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who escaped from Chester County Prison at the end of August and had evaded hundreds of law enforcement personnel for two weeks, CBS News reports.
Still armed with a .22 caliber rifle stolen from a homeowner's garage this week , Cavalcante tried to crawl away through the brush and escape from the tactical units closing in, officials said in a news conference Wednesday. Then a K-9 bit him and held him down, and he was taken into custody.
No one was injured in the capture and no shots were fired, Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a news conference Wednesday.
Among the first people to be notified about the capture of Danelo Cavalcante was the family of Deborah Brandao, the escaped prisoner's ex-girlfriend whom he killed in 2021 .
Before his escape, Cavalcante was set to be transferred to a state correctional institution after being sentenced to life without parole for fatally stabbing Brandao 38 times in front of her two young kids in the Phoenixville area in 2021.
More Special Units
Sponsored•October 27, 2025
How One Police Department Cut Crime by 46% with Smarter Patrol Management
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Is Your Duty Holster Duty Rated?
The first – and worst – time I had to fight to keep my gun, my holster and duty belt held up far better than my training did.
Read More →
Ohio’s Statewide Drone First Responder Program to Take Flight
Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR Pilot Program will equip municipalities with advanced drone systems, deliver comprehensive training for first responders, and enable FAA-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
Read More →
Louisiana Motor Sergeant Dies from Injuries Suffered in June “Intentional” Crash
A motor officer, Sgt. Caleb Eisworth was on his way to participate in a funeral escort when he was struck by another vehicle.
Read More →
Tennessee Officers Say Man Tried to Detonate IED During Arrest
Inside the bedroom officers found what they believed to be an IED. The officers evacuated the house and called for the Chattanooga Police Bomb Squad and ATF agents.
Read More →
Florida School Officer Dies After On-Duty Medical Emergency
Sergeant Greg Graff was “preparing school leaders for the upcoming year during a safety training program at Clearwater High School,” the school district said.
Read More →
Grenade is Missing from Explosion That Killed 3 LASD Deputies
ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper said definitively that only one grenade detonated at the facility on July 18.
Read More →
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Names Deputies Lost in Friday Explosion
LASD said Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn who were all assigned to Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail were killed in the incident.
Read More →
Maryland State Police Helicopter Rescues Victim from Overturned Boat in Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 crew, the MSP helicopter based in California, Maryland, were monitoring the county dispatch radio, overheard the dispatch, and self-launched.
Read More →
3 Los Angeles County Deputies Killed in Explosion Friday Morning
At press time the names of the deputies had not been released. Sheriff Robert Luna said one had served for 19 years, another for 22 years, and another for 33 years.
Read More →