Pennsylvania manhunt in its 12th day for escaped fugitive
Sep 11, 2023, 9:00 PM
This photo provided by the Chester County Prison shows Danelo Cavalcante. Cavalcante, convicted this month of fatally stabbing his girlfriend escaped Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 from the suburban Philadelphia prison and prosecutors say he is also wanted in his native Brazil in a separate slaying. (Chester County Prison via AP)
(Chester County Prison via AP)
SALT LAKE CITY — Law enforcement officials in Pennsylvania are now into their 12th day of a manhunt for an escaped fugitive. A former FBI agent says the suspect has been smart in his approach.
CNN reports that Danelo Cavalcante, 34, escaped from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31. He was convicted last month of first-degree murder.
Retired FBI agent Karl Schmae discusses with KSL NewRadio what authorities will need to do in order to take him back into custody.
“This is something out of a Hollywood thriller,” Schmae said. “Clearly, this guy, Cavalcante, is super dedicated and he’s really smart. All of the sightings have been at night. So, he’s moving at night under the cover of darkness.”
Insight into Pennsylvania manhunt
Schmae also points out the suspect is staying in the woods, which can make things more difficult for those searching for him.
“I’ve been involved in several manhunts, and in thick woods like that,” he said. “You almost have to step on somebody before you can find them.”
Schmae is asked if someone such as Cavalcante would reach out to people he knows or break in and steal stuff from people he doesn’t know.
“I think it really depends on the person,” Schmae said. “And in this case, I think he’s done both.”
Schmae is asked why Cavalcante isn’t further than 20 miles away from the prison after 12 days?
“I think Cavalcante is being very careful,” he said. “The reason he hasn’t been caught so far is he’s been extremely cautious. I’m sure when he was in the initial area, he was just hiding in the thickest, nastiest brush.”
He says as long as Cavalcante is on the loose, citizens need to be smart.
“They got to keep their heads on a swivel,” Schmae said. “Be looking around for anything suspicious, anything odd, keep their vehicles locked up and then certainly keep any weapons locked up. Because the last thing we want is for this guy to break into a house and get a hold of someone’s gun.”
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