A question from a reporter referencing The Little Rascals—a 1920s series of comedy short films—raised eyebrows at a press conference briefing on the recapture of escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante.
A two-week manhunt came to an end after Cavalcante was found in a wooded area in rural Pennsylvania approximately 30 miles from Chester County Prison where he managed to escape by climbing up between two walls.
Hours after the fugitive was back in custody, Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens held a conference detailing how Cavalcante was apprehended by tactical teams thanks to the use of FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) technology locating his heat source.
But one unidentified reporter pressed Bivens more about how the murderer was able to evade authorities for two weeks, and his inquiry suggested it had something to do with Cavalcante being short.
Lieutenant Colonel Bivens was asked:
“Was there any concern he would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, ’Little Rascals’-style?"
Bivens took a moment, stared at the reporter, and shut down any notion of histrionics involved with the killer who was previously on the loose by replying, "No."
You can watch the moment here.
OMG this question at the #DaneloCavalcante press conference. \ud83e\udd23\n\nREPORTER: Was there any concern he would team up with another small man to step inside of a trench coat, 'Little Rascals'-style?"\n\nPSP Lt. Col. George Bivens: "No."— Curtis Houck (@Curtis Houck) 1694616413
Also known as Our Gang, The Little Rascals was created by film producer Hal Roach, who also produced the Laurel and Hardy films.
The black and white film shorts—which started in 1922 as a silent short subject series until it was introduced with sound in 1929— chronicled a group of poor neighborhood children and their wild antics.
An example of what the reporter specifically may have referred to was this trench coat scene from the 1994 film adaptation of the series of the same name.
The Little Rascals (1994) - Taking Out a Loan Scene (5/10) | Movieclips youtu.be
While Bevins appeared unamused by the reporter, users on X (formerly Twitter) gave him props.
@CurtisHouck Love this question. \ud83d\ude0b\ud83d\ude0b\ud83d\ude0b— GiGi the great\u2122\ufe0f (@GiGi the great\u2122\ufe0f) 1694627798
What a time to be alive.— Meara (@Meara) 1694625520
@CurtisHouck So help me god\u2026 I thought I was hearing things. You got the clip. Hilarious \ud83d\ude05— Consultant \u2728 (@Consultant \u2728) 1694616869
@CurtisHouck How did he answer that with a straight face?! We really need to know who asked that. Was Doocy there? \ud83d\ude06\ud83d\ude03\ud83d\ude04\ud83d\ude05\ud83e\udd2a— Just Me (@Just Me) 1694620684
Users were hoping for a different turnout.
@CurtisHouck @GerryCallahan Bivens should of said, I thought the three stooges did it first and your one of them dink.— Mac (@Mac) 1694620372
The journalistic hero eventually came forward claiming to be the unseen reporter heard in the viral video.
The reporter, who is allegedly a podcaster named Michael Rainey, wrote a post on X, saying:
"I had to attend the Danelo Cavalcante press conference because I knew no one else would ask the questions that needed to be asked."
He added that he was shown the door without drama.
"Also, they were very polite in asking me to leave."
I had to attend the Danelo Cavalcante press conference because I knew no one else would ask the questions that needed to be asked. Also, they were very polite in asking me to leave.— Michael Rainey (@Michael Rainey) 1694616615
The revelation prompted cheers.
@mikerainey82 YOU ARE MY HERO— Andrea in Queens (@Andrea in Queens) 1694626087
@mikerainey82 LMAOOO WHAT A LEGEND MANNN YOU HAD ME CRACKING UPPP \ud83e\udd23— MrBearBets \ud83d\udc3b (@MrBearBets \ud83d\udc3b) 1694636143
@mikerainey82 Here, you dropped this \ud83d\udc51— \u210d\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd6a \ud835\udd4e\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd5c\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd63 (@\u210d\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd6a \ud835\udd4e\ud835\udd5a\ud835\udd5f\ud835\udd5c\ud835\udd5d\ud835\udd56\ud835\udd63) 1694617113
@mikerainey82 This is why it took so long for capture, they didn\u2019t consider all the options.— Patrice (@Patrice) 1694623645
@mikerainey82 @iamlauraschu That pause and "no." really really was worth it— Alejandro (@Alejandro) 1694625500
@mikerainey82 You're the hero this city needs, Mike!!!\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd18\ud83e\udd18\ud83e\udd18\ud83e\udd18\ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f\ud83d\ude4f— Jason Zod (@Jason Zod) 1694616777
@mikerainey82 This was absolutely priceless! Thanks for asking the most important question!!— Jodie (@Jodie) 1694621265
@mikerainey82 Hard hitting journalism.— CogginToboggan (@CogginToboggan) 1694618648
@mikerainey82 Thanks for asking the question. There were many of us who had the same question.— MissingLink (@MissingLink) 1694659149
Can a stupid question verge on brilliance?
It looks like we got our answer.
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