As of September 2023, we’ve heard more about this fugitive than any other since Andrew Cunanan. For those of you who don’t recall, Andrew Cunanan murdered Gianni Versace. At 28 years old, this man killed his lover who was a fashion mogul. He fled to South Jersey, allegedly killed a farmer, and stole his pickup truck. He made the FBI’s most wanted list and landed a spotlight on America’s Most Wanted. Everyone was on the lookout for this guy. He was spotted everywhere and yet no one could catch him. At one point, I was even approached by local law enforcement because I bared a light resemblance and happened to walking down the street in the middle of a heatwave. As you might imagine, plenty of people “fit the description.”
Cavalcante, on the other hand, is so elusive that I was certain that those hunting him would kill him dead before they apprehend him alive. There will be no due process (again). There will be no arrest, hearing, or sentencing. Everything about this manhunt spelled “cowboy.” The officials who’d been interviewed daily assured that this man would be brought to justice. They conveyed that they would push him hard so that he would make a mistake. But when he stole a van, got a hold of a gun, and made various stops in his old stomping grounds, the demeanor of the American public grew grim. At this point, anyone with a Ring Door Camera was armed and ready to shoot anyone who enticed their trigger finger. Someone was going to get hurt!
We have a peculiar justice system. Traditionally, law enforcement ensures due process only after the threat to the community has been neutralized. We’ve seen too often that “fake threats” to public safety result in shots fired even when the suspect has no weapon. But in this case, Cavalcante was a martyr by which an example would be made. The correction officer who was supposed to be watching, the one whose sole responsibility was to prevent an escape from occurring, had been fired within days. Cavalcante’s sister was suspected as helping him and was quickly deported. The county-wide manhunt turned into a region-wide manhunt. His escape was covered on the Nightly News.
Water cooler conversations varied from “I hope they catch him soon…” I hope they never catch him…look at him go!” It wouldn’t be long before the entire fiasco turned into either a reality television show or a debate about the American Penal System.
News media had been making progress in not turning outlaws into celebrities. Thirty years ago, criminals like the Unabomber defined infamy. We knew far more than we ever thought we needed to know about criminal intent, manifestos, and penology. We had almost stopped sensationalizing anti-social behavior. And then Danelo Cavalcante showed up.
Either way, it’s all over now. He’s caught. The excitement has ended. Now the region will focus on what is deemed more important like sports, about the Eagles’ home opener, or whether the Phillies have a chance to make it to the series.
Aztec Promises 