Murderer who escaped prison doing 'crab-walk' up a wall has finally been caught after 2 weeks
Claire Reid
Featured Image Credit: Mark Makela/Getty Images / Chester County Prison
Escaped convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante has been captured after almost two-weeks on the run, police have said.
Cavalcante, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2021, scaled a wall and escaped from Chester County Prison in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on August 31 prompting a huge manhunt.
The Pennsylvania State Police have now said after almost two-weeks of searching, Cavalcante has been caught.
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In a post on social media, the Pennsylvania State Police announced a press conference for later today.
The statement read: “A press conference announcing details of THE CAPTURE of Danelo Cavalcante is scheduled for 9:30am at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire company, 36 Firehouse Drive, Kennett Square, PA.”
Prior to his escape Cavalcante, 34, had been incarcerated at Chester County Prison for killing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandãoin front of her children.
Cavalcante is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.
Shocking footage shared by the prison, showed Cavalcante in a small passageway, looking around before bracing his hands and feet against the walls as he ‘crab-walked’ out of the camera’s view.
Having climbed the wall of an exercise yard, the prisoner then scaled the roof before disappearing.
Despite the prison being fully staffed and a tower officer keeping watch over the area - Cavalcante's disappearance went unnoticed.
At a press conference, the acting warden of Chester County, Howard Holland, went on to explain the missing inmate was discovered during a headcount – more than an hour after his escape.
Hundreds of officers are joined in the hunt for Cavalcante.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens said: "We pulled more people in through the night last night, some additional help from other agencies, from our own agency.
"We have got somewhere north of 350, close to 400 people working on this today as we speak."