Convicted killer Danilo Cavalcante, who was captured after two weeks on the run in southeastern Pennsylvania last year, pleaded guilty to escape and burglary charges on Friday. Cavalcante had escaped from a Chester County lockup while waiting to be transferred to serve a life sentence without parole for killing his ex-girlfriend. He managed to evade capture by stealing food, clothing, and other items from people’s homes. One homeowner even fired shots at him when he was caught stealing a rifle in an open garage. Despite the dramatic escape, Cavalcante was eventually captured by searchers using thermal imaging from a plane and K-9 search dogs on the ground. He was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison in addition to his existing life sentence. Cavalcante, a native of Brazil, had a limited education and his lawyer stated that he did not fully comprehend the impact of his actions. The judge advised Cavalcante to try to make something of his life even while in prison and potentially become a mentor to others. The guilty plea came just before the one-year anniversary of his escape, which caused fear among residents in the Philadelphia region. Overall, the incident left many people on edge as they followed the dramatic manhunt for the convicted killer.
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