Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 157, No. 37
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
‘This is a minor setback. We’ll get him. It’s a matter of time’ Now approaching its third week, the manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante includes a stolen vehicle, a new appearance and a new search area By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer As the twist and turn of convicted murderer Danelo Souza Cavalcante’s Aug. 31 escape from Chester County Prison is about to enter its third week, yet another bizarre series of developments were introduced on Sunday that now attach themselves to a story that has not only thrust Chester County into the national spotlight but drawn media attention from around the country. At a press conference held at the Po Mar Lin Fire Company on Sept. 10, Pa. State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens revealed that on the evening of Sept.
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9, Cavalcante managed to puncture the designated 8- to 10-mile search perimeter – one patrolled by over 400 local, state and federal authorities – and steal a vehicle from Baily’s Dairy on Lenape Road that had its keys left in the ignition. After stealing the vehicle – described as a 2020 Ford Transit van that was parked on the dairy farm’s property about three-quarters away from the search area perimeter -- Cavalcante drove 20 miles to an area near Phoenixville, where at 9:52 p.m., he was recorded on a doorbell camera at the home of a former co-worker in East Pikeland Township. Although the individual was not at home when
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Pa. State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens spoke at a Sept. 10 press conference at the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company before dozens of local, state and national media.
Cavalcante arrived, they engaged in a brief conversation through the doorbell camera, when Cavalcante expressed wanting to meet with the individual. After reviewing the recording
By Chris Barber Contributing Writer
Kennett Square proved again it is one of the most popular food fairs in Pennsylvania. This past weekend, the 38th Many thousands of visitors annual Mushroom Festival in strolled State Street over the
when he returned home, the homeowner contacted the Upper Providence Township Police at 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, who then informed investigators. Continued on Page 2A
weekend, filling their bellies with mushroom treats and their shopping bags with vendor crafts. Continued on Page 3A
Landenberg Life
‘We call it the safest place on Earth’...1B
Photo by Chris Barber
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Visitors arrived by the thousands to enjoy the celebration of mushrooms at the festival on Saturday.
© 2007 The Chester County Press
Penn Township supervisors delay decision on sports park bids The Penn Township Board of Supervisors last month voted to not release any escrow money from the Roseview development, but at the Sept. 6 meeting, the board approved the release of $64,000, as recommended by the township engineer. This leaves $57,819.78 in the escrow account to cover the costs of remaining infrastructure work on the subdivision. Roseview residents and the homeowners association have objected to the release of any escrow money, contending that the work remaining to be done would cost more than the total escrow. Residents have multiple complaints, with the most serious and most
Update from the Chester County Press:
Search for Cavalcante moves to South Coventry Township By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer
Mushroom Festival again brings out thousands of visitors
By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Contributing Writer
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expensive related to stormwater and grading. Money is held in escrow to ensure that the developer completes all the infrastructure items on the approved subdivision plan. As portions of the project are completed corresponding amounts of money are released to the developer. Township Solicitor Winifred Sebastian explained that the board may not withhold money for items unless they are a part of the land development plan. “This money is only for the guarantee that the plans are constructed as shown on the plan,” Sebastian said. “We have a contractual obligation to only hold money where things that were not done, not that they were not done well.” Continued on Page 3A
At a press conference held at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 12, Pa. State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said there were a number of new developments in the investigation to capture escaped fugitive Danelo Cavalcante that occurred on the evening of Sept. 11 in South Coventry Township. At about 8 p.m. along Fairview Road in the township west of Route 100, a motorist spotted a man later identified as Cavalcante, crouching near the woods. A large number of state troopers and a border tactical team were immediately used to form a perimeter in the area, and during their search, they observed footprints that matched the footprints of the prison shoes Cavalcante had been wearing. Soon after, both of his prison shoes were located. Police said that another resident in the immediate area reported that a pair of work boots had been stolen from the porch of her home. The tracking of Cavalcante continued to the north and at 10:10 p.m., a call was received from a resident of the 3500 block of Coventryville Road indicating that Cavalcante had entered his garage while the resident was in the garage. Cavalcante then grabbed a 22-caliber Ruger rifle with a scope and a flashlight that was leaning against a wall in the garage, prompting the homeowner to draw a pistol and fire several times at Cavalcante while the fugitive fled the scene. Bivens said that he has no reason to believe that Cavalcante was injured during the shooting. Overnight, searches were underway in the immediate area of the home that involved tactical teams from several agencies including the Pa. State Police; the FBI; the Bureau of Tobacco, Alcohol and Firearms; Border Patrol; U.S. Marshals and police from Chester County and throughout Pennsylvania, as well as aviation resources, canines, mounted patrols and several other assets. “Upwards of 500 law enforcement officers are engaged in securing the perimeter and conducting the searches,” Bivens said. “We are mobilizing additional resources as we speak and are planning for an extended operating period if necessary.” The current search perimeter now includes Route 23 to the north, Route 100 to the east, Fairview and Nantmeal roads to the south and Iron Bridge Road to the west. Bivens described the size of the search area as being close to three miles east to west, and two- to two-and-a-half miles north to south, and its terrain is both hilly and wooded. Tracking Cavalcante down, Bivens said, “is a matter Continued on Page 2A
FROM OUR LENS Call it a comeback
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Kennett High School running back Ian Guyer, seen here plunging through the defensive line in the third quarter, scored the Blue Demons’ first touchdown in the team’s 15-14 come-from-behind victory over Henderson on Sept. 9. The win gave Kennett a 2-0 record in the Ches-Mont American division. For a story and additional photos, see Page 7B.