Man who had work boots stolen by Danelo Cavalcante relieved he was captured
EAST NANTMEAL TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- During the manhunt, Danelo Cavalcante changed clothing multiple times. On day 12, he ditched his prison shoes for a pair of work boots stolen from a home in East Nantmeal.
The owner of those boots is relieved Cavalcante is no longer on the run in his shoes.
Jim Varnes and his neighbors can finally breathe again and return to normal life now that convicted killer Cavalcante has been captured.
"We were afraid," Varnes said.
READ MORE: What was Danelo Cavalcante's endgame? Here's how he survived, what he planned to do, more
The only way Varnes could describe the past 14 days is like something straight out of a movie. He unexpectedly became a part of the thriller Monday night when police told him a passerby saw Cavalcante crouching in the field across from his home.
Varnes soon discovered the fugitive had been on his property and stole a pair of grass-cutting boots right off the back porch as he and his wife were inside watching television.
"They were like right in here," Varnes said. "He didn't make no noise."
Wednesday morning, U.S. Marshals released this photo of the escapee being taken into custody and on his feet Varnes' boots.
"They're definitely my boots. I'm 100% sure they're mine," Varnes said.
Roughly four hours later, the shackled criminal was escorted out of the state police barracks in Avondale shoeless.
"I don't know how to get my boots back," Varnes said.
But at this point, they're the least of his concerns.
Varnes is happy to have peace of mind knowing Cavalcante will be serving out a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Montgomery County.
Aziza Shuler: "How do you believe this whole ordeal has changed your neighborhood and your community?"
Varnes: "I think we're all glad that it's over with. I think in a few months, it will all be forgotten."
