Afterevading authorities for nearly two weeks, fugitiveDanelo Cavalcantewas caught off guard when a tactical team tasked with finding him eventually cornered him in Chester County on Wednesday morning, authorities said at a Wednesday press conference.
The extensive search had brought in hundreds of law enforcement officials from a local, state and federal level. The search team finally caught up with him a little after midnight on Wednesday morning when they were alerted to a burglary alarm from a residence that was within their search parameters.
PA State Police/Facebook
While an investigation into the burglary did not find anything, it brought the team closer to the area where Cavalcante would eventually be captured.
Danelo Cavalcante.PA State Police/ Facebook
PA State Police/ Facebook
Subsequently, authorities were able to monitor Cavalcante’s movements using an overhead aircraft, which identified a “heat source” on the ground, Bivens said.
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“The tactical teams began to converge on that location where the heat source was moving,” Bivens said, adding that aircraft had to come down from the sky for a period due to lightning in the area.
The team then secured the area until the storm passed and the aircraft was able to operate again. Once the operation resumed, officers located Cavalcante and surrounded him at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
Cavalcante was then taken into custody, and will be transferred to a state correctional facility, said Bivens.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryansaid one of the first calls they made following the fugitive’s capture was to the family of Cavalcante’s ex-girlfriend’s family, who were “living in a complete nightmare.”
According to Bivens, Cavalcante “seemed to like to travel via creek beds, paths of less resistance, woodlines, power lines, [and] gas lines.”
Bivens said it’s not yet determined whether Cavalcante will be facing further charges for the escape, but he will remain in state prison to serve out his life sentence.
source: people.com
