Escaped US murderer Danelo Cavalcante survived on stolen watermelon, hid poop

The saga of Danelo Cavalcante reads like the plot of a gripping TV show.

After a daring prison escape in Pennsylvania, US, he managed to elude authorities for nearly two weeks, surviving on stolen watermelon and meticulously concealing his waste to avoid being tracked.

During the search for him in the dense Pennsylvania woods, officers came dangerously close to him three times, with the convicted killer being completely candid about his actions after his arrest.

What

• Danelo Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who executed a daring prison escape in Pennsylvania, managed to stay hidden for two weeks by consuming watermelon from a farm and carefully concealing his waste.
• His escape from Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township on August 31 had the entire state on edge as authorities scoured the area for him.
• They apprehended the 34-year-old on Wednesday morning, September 13, after an intense search.
• Cavalcante had been convicted of a heinous crime—killing his ex-girlfriend in front of her two young children.

During his escape, he broke into homes for food, altered his appearance, and acquired a van and rifle. Cavalcante also buried his waste to avoid detection, and officers nearly discovered him three times.

He survived by pilfering watermelons, drinking from a stream, and hiding in bushes, primarily at night, to leave no traces.

Yoda: The dog who caught Cavalcante

• In the search effort, a US Drug Enforcement Administration plane equipped with thermal-imaging technology was deployed.
• It detected a heat signature in a wooded area in Philadelphia, leading authorities closer to Cavalcante.

• As authorities closed in on him, Cavalcante, armed with a rifle, began crawling through thick underbrush.

• To aid in the pursuit, they released Yoda, a member of the US Border Patrol's tactical unit.

• Yoda subdued Cavalcante with a bite, allowing authorities to handcuff him.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens emphasized the crucial role of K-9s in safely capturing individuals, thereby reducing the need for lethal force.