PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Two weeks since convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison, he is back in the custody of authorities.
Sources say Cavalcante was apprehended Wednesday morning.
A full-scale manhunt — using drones, helicopters, dogs, and even the recorded voice of Cavalcante’s mother — had Chester County residents on high alert since his escape on Aug. 31.
Video released Wednesday, Sept. 6, showed Cavalcante walking to the entrance of the prison's exercise yard then placing his hands against one wall and his feet against another about 5 feet away as he shimmied up to a roof. Officials said he then ran across the roof, jumped down and made his way over the fence through a couple layers of razor wire.
On Friday, the prison guard on duty in the watchtower while Cavalcante escaped was fired. According to AP, the guard had his personal cellphone on him at the time, which is a violation of jail protocol, and was put on administrative leave shortly after the escape.
Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison in August for murdering his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, in front of her children in 2021. He is also wanted in his native Brazil for a separate killing in 2017.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Stay with KYW Newsradio for the latest.