Police ‘Closing In’ On Escaped Murderer As New Perimeter Set

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — A new perimeter has been established in southeastern Pennsylvania after escaped murderer Darnell Cavalcante stole a rifle early Tuesday morning, and police expressed confidence that they were closing in on the man who has quickly become one of the most notorious fugitives in regional history.

State police released new details Tuesday morning, saying that a motorist spotted a man they believe to be Cavalcante crouching in the woods off Route 100.

See full coverage of Danelo Cavalcante’s escape.

Bootprints found in the mud matched Cavalcante’s prison boots. Border Patrol teams nearby quickly surrounded the area, and set up a perimeter in the South Coventry area about two miles wide and three miles long.

Shortly after that, Cavalcante entered a nearby garage, likely seeking a place to hide, police said, and stole a .22 caliber rifle. The homeowner fired several shots at Cavalcante as he fled, but did not appear to hit him.

Authorities stressed the difficulties of searching this new perimeter’s terrain, which is heavily wooded, hilly, and includes multiple waterways.

“It’s not a matter of just charging into the woods and saying, ‘it’s that-a-way,’” Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens told reporters in Kennett Square Tuesday morning.

The law enforcement teams searching for the fugitive have now grown to over 500 individuals. A wide array of units, including police dogs, helicopters, and more are searching.

The new perimeter in the South Coventry area is bounded by Route 23 to the north, Route 100 to the east, and Nantmeal Road to the south.

Bivens said it could take some time to finish searching the area. When asked how Cavalcante had escaped previous perimeters and why the search was taking so long, Bivens asserted that police had found Cavalcante, a “needle in a haystack,” several times already.

“I don’t know why you think something has gone wrong,” he said. “Our people have done an amazing job…and I believe we will be successful in the long run.”

Bivens declined to comment on if Cavalcante is receiving help, but added that “it’s too late for that now.”

“He is beyond assistance,” Bivens said, reiterating his belief that he would soon be caught.

Nearby Owen J. Roberts school district shut down for the day Tuesday, and residents were urged to lock their windows and doors and stay off the roads if possible.

If you see Cavalcante or have any information, call 911 immediately.