Danelo Cavalcante update: New video shows prison escape as Pennsylvania police track more sightings

The manhunt for convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante has now entered its seventh day with details beginning to emerge about how he managed to escape from prison in Pennsylvania.

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison days after he was sentenced to life without parole for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão, 31, to death in front of her two small children. He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.

Authorities said during a press conference on Wednesday that he broke out by climbing onto a prison building roof from one of the exercise yards. Newly released surveillance video shows Cavalcante crawling up a wall at the prison before he disappears from the frame.

Police said that he later managed to jump down to an area of the prison that had less surveillance. A tower officer tasked with observing the site failed to report the incident, and Cavalcante’s escape was only noticed later during a head count.

Cavalcante was last spotted near Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township on Tuesday evening. Local and federal law enforcement searched the area for hours but did not locate the fugitive.

Members of the public are urged to secure their homes from the dangerous killer.

Key points

• Manhunt for convicted killer enters six day

• How did Danelo Cavalcante escape?

• Local schools shuttered Tuesday as killer remains at large

• Surrender message from escaped inmate’s mother blasted into search area

• What did Danelo Cavalcante do?

‘He said he was going to do something bad to our lives’, daughter of Cavalcante’s victim told police

15:04 , Andrea Blanco

The daughter of Danelo Cavalcante’s victim told police that he showed up at their house and said he was going to do “something bad to their lives”, according to an affidavit.

The seven-year-old daughter of Deborah Brandao told police that he “pulled two knives out from a black bag that was behind his back”.

She started screaming and Cavalcante hit her with a rock, police wrote in the affidavit.

Cavalcante is also a suspect in a 2017 homicide case in Brazil, according to US Marshals Service.

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

14:30 , Andrea Blanco

Prison warden on administrative leave amid investigation into jail escape

14:00 , Andrea Blanco

Chester County Prison acting warden Howard Holland said that Cavalcante’s jailbreak was similar to another inmate’s escape back in May. During that incident, a tower officer immediately reported the situation to prison staff and the inmate was apprehended within minutes.

In Cavalcante’s case, his absence was not noticed for nearly an hour.

“While we believed that the security measures we had in place were sufficient, they have proven otherwise,” Mr Holland said. “And we will work to enhance our security ... One key difference in [this] escape is the role of the tower officer whose primary responsibility is to oversee the inmate in the exercise yard.”

The state’s attorney’s office is now investigating the jailbreak. Mr Holland said that the actions of the tower officer, who is on administrative leave, are part of the probe and that appropriate action will be taken against personnel based on the results of the investigation.

Father reveals terrifying moment escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante broke into his home

13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A Pennsylvania man has opened up about the terrifying moment an escaped murder convict Danelo Cavalcante apparently broke into his home while his family was sleeping.

The manhunt for Cavalcante entered its seventh day on Wednesday, with at least five confirmed sightings of the fugitive since he escaped from Chester County Prison on 31 August.

Law enforcement initially set up a two-mile perimeter around a wooded area where Cavalcante was believed to be hiding, but the search was expanded after Cavalcante was caught on trail camera sneaking past the perimeter on Monday. Schools in the district have been closed, and authorities have urged residents to remain aware of their surroundings and secure their homes from the killer.

West Chester resident Ryan Drummond claimed in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer that one of Cavalcante’s confirmed sightings occurred at his home. Mr Drummond said that he woke up to noises downstairs on 1 September and realised that there was an intruder.

“I decided not to confront him and thought it was a better move to flick the light switch,” Mr Drummond, whose wife and children were also in the home, told the Inquirer. “And he flicked it back at me, which was terrifying, so I told my wife to call 911.”

Father reveals terrifying moment escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante broke into his home

Danelo Cavalcante’s escape from Pennsylvania prison captured in newly released video

13:00 , Andrea Blanco

At a press conference on Wednesday, state police said that Cavalcante managed to escape from Chester County Prison by jumping onto the facility’s roof from an exercise yard.

Surveillance video shows Cavalcante crawling up a wall before he disappears from the frame.

Read more:

Danelo Cavalcante’s prison escape captured in new video

How did Danelo Cavalcante manage to slip past Pennsylvania authorities twice?

12:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Authorities are facing mounting questions over two escapes by Danelo Cavalcante - one from prison and a second from a search perimeter.

Danelo Cavalcante remains on the run nearly a week after the convicted murderer managed to escape Chester County Prison on 31 August. The jailbreak has prompted a full-scale manhunt and local school closures after officials confirmed that Cavalcante snuck past the initial two-mile search perimeter.

District Attorney Deb Ryan said the incident was under investigation but declined to elaborate on how Cavalcante — who was recently sentenced to life for murdering his former girlfriend — was able to bypass security at the correctional facility.

Police sources who spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer under the condition of anonymity have now shed light on the circumstances surrounding the 34-year-old’s escape. According to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the escape, Cavalcante climbed onto the prison’s roof from one of the exercise yards.

How did Danelo Cavalcante manage to slip past Pennsylvania authorities twice?

Father reveals terrifying moment escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante broke into his home

12:00 , Andrea Blanco

A Pennsylvania man has opened up about the terrifying moment an escaped murder convict Danelo Cavalcante apparently broke into his home while his family was sleeping.

Father reveals terrifying moment escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante broke into his home

Last sighting was reported on Tuesday evening, police say

11:30 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante was last spotted near Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township on Tuesday evening. Local and federal law enforcement agencies searched the area for hours but were not able to locate him.

Lt Col George Bivens said that search units were experiencing challenges while canvassing the vast wooded area where Cavalcante is believed to be hiding. A K-9 unit had to be hospitalised on Tuesday, Mr Bivens said, after suffering a heat-related medical incident.

“I don’t think he has more ability than we initially gave him credit for, I think it’s a very challenging area,” Mr Bivens said. “We have had some searches like this in the past ... some take hours, some take days, some take months.”

Police say stress is ‘wearing Cavalcante down’

11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania State Lt Col George Bivens said on Wednesday that Cavalcante had some experience hiding and surviving in the woods from growing up in his native Brazil.

However, Mr Biven said that he was confident the manhunt was “wearing Cavalcante down.”

“Despite the location, the background a person comes from. These are hot, humid temperatures. He has no regular means of obtaining food other than if he’s able to break in someplace or scavenge something,” Mr Bivens said. “So it’s a difficult experience ... that is going to definitely take its toll.”

'He said he was going to do something bad to our lives’, daughter of Cavalcante’s victim told police

10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The daughter of Danelo Cavalcante’s victim told police that he showed up at their house and said he was going to do “something bad to their lives”, according to an affidavit.

The seven-year-old daughter of Deborah Brandao told police that he “pulled two knives out from a black bag that was behind his back”.

She started screaming and Cavalcante hit her with a rock, police wrote in the affidavit.

Cavalcante is also a suspect in a 2017 homicide case in Brazil, according to US Marshals Service.

Danelo Cavalcante brutally murdered former girlfriend in 2021

10:00 , Andrea Blanco

Why was Danelo Cavalcante sentenced to life?

Cavalcante was convicted of the murder of 33-year-old Deboral Brandao on 16 August after the jury deliberated for just 15 minutes. He was sentenced to life in prison on 22 August.

Cavalcante and Brandao reportedly met through mutual friends and moved in together with her two children not long after their two-year relationship began.

Prosecutors outlined his domestic abuse against Brandao during the trial.

It was reported that in June 2020, Cavalcante bit Brandao on her lip hard enough to draw blood and chased her and her children out of their home. Brandao and her kids hid in a neighbour’s apartment and a warrant was issued by police for Cavalcante’s arrest. However, he did not turn himself in.

Later that year, Cavalcante allegedly attacked Brandao again, chasing her with a knife, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Brandao then filed for a temporary abuse order against him, but this lapsed in March 2021 when she did not appear at a hearing.

According to evidence presented at the trial, the two kept in touch and police said Cavalcante drove to Brandao’s home to confront her in April 2021.

While Brandao’s children, then aged seven and three, were playing nearby, Cavalcante pulled her hair and threw her to the ground. He then began to stab her repeatedly.

Brandao was later pronounced dead at Paoli Hospital, the outlet said. Two friends of Cavalcante testified during his trial that they helped the murder convict escape and gave him clean clothes so he could “disappear” for a while.

Prosecutors said Cavalcante killed Brandao to stop her from telling police about his outstanding arrest warrant for murder in Brazil.

Cavalcante used 'crab-walking' method to break free from prison

09:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Danelo Cavalcante managed to break out of prison using an unconventional method, according to officials, which involved “crab-walking” up a wall, pushing through razor wire and making a dash across a roof.

Acting warden Howard Holland of Chester County Prison said during a news conference on Wednesday that 34-year-old Cavalcante executed his escape on the morning of 31 August while his prison block was in the exercise yard, and an officer in a tower failed to notice his departure.

WATCH: Stunning video shows Danelo Cavalcante escape prison

09:00 , Andrea Blanco

$20,000 reward offered for information regarding Cavalcante’s whereabouts

08:30 , Andrea Blanco

The Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers have offered $10,000 for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture, bringing the reward total to $20,000.

Law enforcement teams, including the US Marshals, SWAT, local, state, and other federal agencies, have joined the search to find the fugitive.

Cavalcante was sentenced to life without parole for stabbing his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão to death. He attacked Brandão in Schuylkill Township, back in August 2021, in front of her two children, who were just seven and three years old.

He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.

Manhunt enters eight day as Cavalcante remains on the run

08:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante is described as a Brazilian man with a 5-foot height and light complexion, shaggy black curly hair and brown eyes. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish.

Authorities urged people to not approach Cavalcante and released his pictures from when he was last seen.

Danelo Cavalcante killed his girlfriend in front of her children. Now he’s on the run after a prison break

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Danelo Cavalcante was sentenced to life behind bars for the April 2021 murder of Deborah Brandao. He broke free from jail days later, sparking an ongoing manhunt, Faiza Saqib reports

He killed his girlfriend in front of her kids. Now he’s on the run from prison

‘I intend to stress him'

07:00 , Andrea Blanco

Officials said Cavalcante’s movements show he’s feeling the pressure of the massive search and that his options are dwindling.

“I intend to stress him. I want to push him hard. He’ll make mistakes,” Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bevins said at an earlier press conference. “He’ll show himself. He’s already shown himself, we believe, a few times.”

Law enforcement teams, including the US Marshals, SWAT, local, state, and other federal agencies, have joined the search to find Cavalcante.

Authorities are also offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads to his arrest.

Search for escaped murderer prompts Pennsylvania school closures after mother’s surrender message

06:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Pennsylvania police have shuttered local schools “out of abundance of caution” as the search for escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante enters its sixth day.

In a memo sent to parents, the Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County said that schools across the district would be closed on Tuesday as the “search situation” to find the convicted killer has now changed.

“We were informed early this morning by law enforcement that the search situation has evolved and out of an abundance of caution, schools and offices will be closed today,” Superintendent Dr Dusty Blakey said in the letter.

“We understand that situations like these can be unsettling. The safety and security of our KCSD community remain our top priority. We are committed to taking all necessary precautions and measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”

The Spt urged the community to stay informed about the situation which continues to rapidly evolve.

Police shut schools in search for Danelo Cavalcante after mother’s surrender message

ICYMI: Manhunt launched for ‘extremely dangerous’ escaped murder convict Danelo Cavalcante in Pennsylvania

06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

An “extremely dangerous” murder convict has escaped from a Pennsylvania prison prompting authorities to launch a manhunt.

Danelo Cavalcante, a 34-year-old man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death, escaped from Chester County Prison in West Chester around 8.45am on Thursday, said the county’s district attorney Deb Ryan.

She said the convict is “considered an extremely dangerous man” and urged for the public’s help in locating him.

Cavalcante was convicted on 16 August for the murder of his 33-year-old former girlfriend Deborah Brandao in April 2021 in front of her children. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole for stabbing the woman to death.

He is also wanted for a homicide in 2017 in Brazil, the US Marshals Service for Philadelphia said.

Manhunt launched for murder convict who escaped Pennsylvania jail

Watch: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante’s prison escape

05:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Authorities try to flush out escaped murderer in suburban Philadelphia manhunt

05:00 , Andrea Blanco

Two suburban Philadelphia school districts remained shuttered and one of the nation’s premier botanical gardens was closed Wednesday as authorities worked to flush out a convicted murderer who escaped from prison last week.

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, has been spotted five times since he escaped Thursday from the Chester State Prison.

The most recent sighting came Monday night at Longwood Gardens, where trail surveillance video captured him walking through the area with a duffel bag, backpack and hooded sweatshirt he apparently stole while on the run.

That sighting led officials to move the search area farther south on Tuesday after they determined that Cavalcante had likely slipped through the original perimeter set by hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement officers, but they said his movements show he’s feeling the pressure of the massive search and that his options are dwindling.

AP

Prison warden on administrative leave amid investigation into jail escape

04:30 , Andrea Blanco

Chester County Prison acting warden Howard Holland said that Cavalcante’s jailbreak was similar to another inmate’s escape back in May. During that incident, a tower officer immediately reported the situation to prison staff and the inmate was apprehended within minutes.

In Cavalcante’s case, his absence was not noticed for nearly an hour.

“While we believed that the security measures we had in place were sufficient, they have proven otherwise,” Mr Holland said. “And we will work to enhance our security ... One key difference in [this] escape is the role of the tower officer whose primary responsibility is to oversee the inmate in the exercise yard.”

The state’s attorney’s office is now investigating the jailbreak. Mr Holland said that the actions of the tower officer, who is on administrative leave, are part of the probe and that appropriate action will be taken against personnel based on the results of the investigation.

K-9 unit suffers heat-related medical episode during search

04:00 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities said that the woods in the search perimeter are so vast that investigators can only walk a few feet without losing sight of each other.

Pennsylvania State Lt Col George Bivens said that search units were experiencing challenges amid hot weather while canvassing the area where Cavalcante is believed to be hiding.

A K-9 unit had to be hospitalised on Tuesday, Mr Bivens said, after suffering a heat-related medical incident.

“I don’t think he has more ability than we initially gave him credit for, I think it’s a very challenging area,” Mr Bivens said. “We have had some searches like this in the past ... some take hours, some take days, some take months.”

ICYMI: Confirmed sightings of Danelo Cavalcante

03:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania, at around 8.50am on Thursday (31 August).

These are some of the confirmed sightings:

• He was captured on camera at Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, on Monday (4 September.) He travelled north at around 8.21pm and was then spotted coming past the camera again at 9.33pm local time.

• Cavalcante has been seen at the intersection of Routes 926 and 52, north on Route 52 to Parkersville Road, southeast to Route 926 and west to the intersection of Routes 926 and 52 in Pocopson Township, police said.

• Cavalcante was last spotted near Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township on Tuesday evening. Local and federal law enforcement agencies searched the area for hours but were not able to locate Cavalcante.

A timeline of Danelo Cavalcante’s escape

02:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante began his escape at around 8.50am on 31 August, police said, while other inmates in the exercise yard played basketball.

He stretched his body to fit the length of a hallway and climbed onto the roof of the prison. He then made his way out of the prison on foot.

It was only nearly an hour later that correction officers realised an inmate was missing during a head count.

The prison was locked at 9.50am and the 911 centre was notified of the escape 10 minutes later.

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

01:00 , Andrea Blanco

$20,000 reward offered for information regarding Cavalcante’s whereabouts

Thursday 7 September 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

The Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers have offered $10,000 for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture, bringing the reward total to $20,000.

Law enforcement teams, including the US Marshals, SWAT, local, state, and other federal agencies, have joined the search to find Cthe fugitive.

Cavalcante was sentenced to life without parole for stabbing his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão to death. He attacked Brandão in Schuylkill Township, back in August 2021, in front of her two children, who were just seven and three years old.

He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.

Last sighting was reported on Tuesday evening, police say

Wednesday 6 September 2023 22:57 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante was last spotted near Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township on Tuesday evening. Local and federal law enforcement agencies searched the area for hours but were not able to locate Cavalcante.

Mr Bivens said that search units were experiencing challenges while canvassing the vast wooded area where Cavalcante is believed to be hiding. A K-9 unit had to be hospitalised on Tuesday, Mr Bivens said, after suffering a heat-related medical incident.

“I don’t think he has more ability than we initially gave him credit for, I think it’s a very challenging area,” Mr Bivens said. “We have had some searches like this in the past ... some take hours, some take days, some take months.”

Authorities release video of prison escape

Wednesday 6 September 2023 20:35 , Andrea Blanco

At a press conference on Wednesday, state police said that Cavalcante managed to escape from Chester County Prison by jumping onto the facility’s roof from an exercise yard. Surveillance video shows Cavalcante crawling up a wall before he disappears from the frame.

Police said that he later managed to jump down to an area of the prison that had less surveillance. A tower officer who was tasked to observe the area failed to report the incident, and Cavalcante’s escape was only noticed later during a head count.

Police continue searching for Danelo Cavalcante

Wednesday 6 September 2023 19:56 , Andrea Blanco

Hot weather, dense woods complicating search

Wednesday 6 September 2023 19:50 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities said on Tuesday that the woods in the search perimeter are so vast that investigators can only walk a few feet without losing sight of each other.

“Obviously, I wish we would have been able to capture him without him getting through that perimeter, but it’s also not shocking,” Lt Col George Bivens said during a press conference. “It’s dark, it’s a large area. Not to make excuses - it’s difficult terrain.”

Two school districts shutter schools for second day as Cavalcante still on the run

Wednesday 6 September 2023 18:50 , Andrea Blanco

The ongoing manhunt forced officials in two school districts within the large search area to cancel classes for a second straight day, citing “an overabundance of caution.”

Longwood Gardens, which is closed on Tuesdays, cited the same reason in announcing it would not open on Wednesday.

Authorities have urged residents to keep their homes and vehicles locked, to check the properties of vacationing neighbors and to look out for missing cars, bicycles or any other mode of transportation Cavalcante might use.

Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison last month for killing his ex-girlfriend in front of her children, and escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison.

How did Danelo Cavalcante manage to slip past Pennsylvania authorities twice?

Wednesday 6 September 2023 18:11 , Andrea Blanco

Police sources who spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer under the condition of anonymity have now shed light on the circumstances surrounding the 34-year-old’s escape.

According to a law enforcement official with knowledge of the escape, Cavalcante climbed onto the prison’s roof from one of the exercise yards.

The Independent reports:

How did Danelo Cavalcante manage to slip past Pennsylvania authorities twice?

WATCH: Search expands for escaped Pennsylvania prisoner, Danelo Cavalcante

Wednesday 6 September 2023 17:21 , Andrea Blanco

Man says Cavalcante broke into his home and stole food

Wednesday 6 September 2023 15:53 , Andrea Blanco

Ryan Drummond claimed in an interview with ABC that he had a close encounter with Cavalcante inside his home in Pocopson Township.

“My wife said, ‘Hey, I think there may be somebody downstairs.’ I decided to do light switches on and off again five or six times,” Mr Drummond recounted. “And then he switched the lights from downstairs three or four times, which was the moment of like, ‘Oh my God, this guy is downstairs.’”

Mr Drummond said that he checked his children were safe and eventually saw Cavalcante leave. In a separate interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr Drummond said that Cavalcante had stolen apples, peaches, and snap peas from his kitchen.

“The last few days have been surreal. It’s tough,” Mr Drummond told the Inquirer. “We’re all jumpy, and I could see this has taken a psychological toll on my kids. If they’re in the room by themselves, they’re calling for us.”

Schools closed out as manhunt for murder convict continues

Wednesday 6 September 2023 14:44 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante has made it out of the previously established police perimeter, forcing investigators to focus their search on a two-mile radio.

Local police said that he had not changed his appearance.

Cavalcante is described as a 5ft Brazilian man with light complexion, shaggy, black curly hair and brown eyes.

ACTIVE MANHUNT UPDATES... - Chester County District Attorney

State police say Cavalcante ‘is a bad guy’ as search for convict intensifies

Wednesday 6 September 2023 14:00 , Andrea Blanco

“You’re dealing with someone who is desperate and doesn’t want to be caught,” George Bivens, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, said during a news conference Tuesday. “If he can find some shelter, if he can find some food, he’s going to take advantage of whatever he finds.”

Authorities haven’t disclosed how Cavalcante managed to escape, saying it is under investigation. He was sentenced to life in prison last month for killing his ex-girlfriend in front of her children, and escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison.

“He’s a bad guy. He needs to be in custody and we are determined to capture him,” Bivens said.

Danelo Cavalcante’s jail escape now under investigation

Wednesday 6 September 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco

Police haven’t disclosed the circumstances of how Cavalcante managed to escape Chester State Prison and have said the incident remains under investigation.

“A search of the prison and surrounding area is currently being conducted,” the Chester County’s district attorney’s office initially said.

“Notification of the escape has been communicated to all residents within a six-mile radius of the prison. Chester County Detectives and the Pennsylvania State Police are conducting a thorough county-wide search, and prison officials are conducting an internal investigation.”

Given the danger around the situation, residents have been asked to “remain indoors at this time. Lock your vehicles. Review your surveillance cameras and contact police if you observe anything suspicious,” DA Deb Ryan said.

Why was Danelo Cavalcante sentenced to life?

Wednesday 6 September 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante was convicted of the murder of 33-year-old Deboral Brandao on 16 August after the jury deliberated for just 15 minutes. He was sentenced to life in prison on 22 August.

Cavalcante and Brandao reportedly met through mutual friends and moved in together with her two children not long after their two-year relationship began.

Prosecutors outlined his domestic abuse against Brandao during the trial.

Deborah Brandao (pictured) was stabbed to death in front of her children in April 2021

It was reported that in June 2020, Cavalcante bit Brandao on her lip hard enough to draw blood and chased her and her children out of their home. Brandao and her kids hid in a neighbour’s apartment and a warrant was issued by police for Cavalcante’s arrest. However, he did not turn himself in.

Later that year, Cavalcante allegedly attacked Brandao again, chasing her with a knife, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Brandao then filed for a temporary abuse order against him, but this lapsed in March 2021 when she did not appear at a hearing.

According to evidence presented at the trial, the two kept in touch and police said Cavalcante drove to Brandao’s home to confront her in April 2021.

While Brandao’s children, then aged seven and three, were playing nearby, Cavalcante pulled her hair and threw her to the ground. He then began to stab her repeatedly.

Brandao was later pronounced dead at Paoli Hospital, the outlet said. Two friends of Cavalcante testified during his trial that they helped the murder convict escape and gave him clean clothes so he could “disappear” for a while.

Prosecutors said Cavalcante killed Brandao to stop her from telling police about his outstanding arrest warrant for murder in Brazil.

He was captured in Virginia shortly after the stabbing, while police said he was attempting to return to Brazil.

Cavalcante is described as a 5 foot Brazilian man with light complexion, shaggy, black curly hair and brown eyes.

Manhunt enters seventh day

Wednesday 6 September 2023 11:20 , Rachel Sharp

The manhunt for convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante has now entered its seventh day.

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison on Thursday days after he was sentenced to life without parole for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão, 31, to death in front of her two small children.

He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.

During the ongoing search for the escaped prisoner, multiple sightings have been reported with law enforcement setting up a two-mile perimeter around a wooded area where he was believed to be holed up.

On Monday, officials then broadcast a message from the killer’s mother urging her son to surrender.

But, on Tuesday morning, police revealed Cavalcante had been caught on trail camera sneaking past the perimeter. As a result, police expanded the search area and shuttered schools in the Kennett Consolidated School District “out of an abundance of caution”.

Members of the public are urged to secure their homes from the dangerous killer.

WATCH: Danelo Cavalcante seen in residential security camera footage

Wednesday 6 September 2023 11:00 , Andrea Blanco

Search for Danelo Cavalcante enters seventh day

Wednesday 6 September 2023 10:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante is described as a 5ft Brazilian man with light complexion, shaggy, black curly hair and brown eyes.

He is also wanted for a homicide in 2017 in Brazil, the US Marshals Service for Philadelphia said.

Full-scale manhunt underway for murder convict Danelo Cavalcante

Wednesday 6 September 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco

Police put out a poster with images of Cavalcante, both caught on the CCTV footage and a picture of him from prison.

Authorities said in a “case outline” that there would be a “combined reward” of $5,000 from the US Marshals Service and $5,000 from Chester County.

“Danelo Souza Cavalcante is wanted by Chester County Detectives, Pennsylvania State Police and the United States Marshals Service (USMS) for escaping from the Chester County

“Prison on 8/31/2023. Cavalcante is also wanted for homicide in Brazil. He is a Brazilian national fluent in Portuguese and Spanish,” the wanted poster reads.

Authorities said law enforcement teams, including the US Marshals, SWAT and other federal agencies, have joined the search to find Cavalcante.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports US Marshal Supervisory Agent Robert Clark said Friday that the agency had received more than 100 tips from residents.

It was reported by the outlet that the marshals employed helicopters, drones and other resources to search for Cavalcante in the heavily wooded areas near the prison.

Law enforcement also blasted a message from his mother, speaking in Portuguese, into his hiding place from police helicopters and patrol cars.

Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US Marshal for the Easter District of Pennsylvania spoke at a conference explaining why these tactics were being deployed.

“As desperate as he is, maybe he has a change of thought and hears his mother telling him to surrender, and his family cares about him,” Mr Clark said.

“Perhaps this is what puts him over the edge where we can get a peaceful surrender.”

While Mr Clark did not confirm the exact wording of the message to Cavalcante, he said that the killer’s mother was urging him to turn himself in to authorities.

“She’s just encouraging that his family loves him, and that she wants him to surrender. And that’s what our hope is as well,” he said.

ICYMI: Danelo Cavalcante’s sightings

Wednesday 6 September 2023 08:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania, at around 8.50am on Thursday (31 August).

The escaped murderer was last captured on camera at Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, on Monday (4 September.)

He travelled north at around 8.21pm and was then spotted coming past the camera again at 9.33pm local time.

As a result, police have now shifted and expanded the police perimeter and shuttered nearby schools.

The images show that Cavalcante has obtained a backpack and a hooded sweatshirt during his escape.

Cavalcante has been seen at the intersection of Routes 926 and 52, north on Route 52 to Parkersville Road, southeast to Route 926 and west to the intersection of Routes 926 and 52 in Pocopson Township, police said.

There have also been two reported burglaries in the area that police have investigated, but these are not currently confirmed to be linked to the escaped prisoner.

However, Lt Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said that the incidents “are of interest to us”.

In an image previously released by the Chester County District Attorney, Cavalcante was wearing pants, a light-coloured t-shirt, white sneakers and a backpack. He is described as having long, black curly hair and police said his “appearance has remained unchanged.”

Local authorities received a report of an attempted burglary in the area just an hour before Cavalcante was captured on surveillance, but it is not immediately clear if he was involved.

Cavalcante was last seen on surveillance footage about one and a half miles from the prison at around 12.30pm on Saturday

WATCH: Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante escapes Chester County Prison, search underway

Wednesday 6 September 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco

Manhunt for dangerous fugitive hones in on heavily wooded area after four sightings

Wednesday 6 September 2023 06:00 , Andrea Blanco

A manhunt continues for a dangerous inmate who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison last week as authorities focus on a heavily wooded area in Pocopsen Township after four confirmed sightings.

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, has been on the run in Chester County since Thursday after he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the fatal stabbing of his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend.

District Attorney Deb Ryan announced at a press briefing on Monday that the Pennsylvania State Police will be taking over the investigation and manhunt.

“The goal right now is to find and capture this dangerous fugitive,” Ms Ryan said, adding that she understands the community’s concerns. “We are doing everything in our power to get this guy.”

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Police hone in on wooded area during manhunt for escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante

WATCH: Tension remain high as search for escaped killer continues

Wednesday 6 September 2023 05:00 , Andrea Blanco

Law enforcement blasts message from Danelo Cavalcante’s mother into search area

Wednesday 6 September 2023 03:00 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities broadcast a surrender message from the killer’s mother into the wooded area where he was believed to be holed up on Monday night.

Robert Clark, supervisory deputy US Marshal for the Easter District of Pennsylvania, said at a press conference on Monday afternoon: “As desperate as he is, maybe he has a change of thought and hears his mother telling him to surrender, and his family cares about him.

“Perhaps this is what puts him over the edge where we can get a peaceful surrender.”

While Mr Clark did not confirm the exact wording of his mother’s message – speaking in Portuguese – to Cavalcante but he said that the killer’s mother was urging him to turn himself into authorities.

“She’s just encouraging that his family loves him, and that she wants him to surrender. And that’s what our hope is as well,” he said.

Search for escaped murderer prompts Pennsylvania school closures after mother’s surrender message

Wednesday 6 September 2023 02:00 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania police have shuttered local schools “out of abundance of caution” as the search for escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante enters its sixth day.

In a memo sent to parents, the Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County said that schools across the district would be closed on Tuesday as the “search situation” to find the convicted killer has now changed.

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Police shut schools in search for Danelo Cavalcante after mother’s surrender message

Danelo Cavalcante killed his girlfriend in front of her children. Now he’s on the run after a prison break

Wednesday 6 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

Danelo Cavalcante was sentenced to life behind bars for the April 2021 murder of Deborah Brandao.

He broke free from jail days later, sparking an ongoing manhunt.

The Independent’s Faiza Saqib reports:

He killed his girlfriend in front of her kids. Now he’s on the run from prison

Cavalcante has been spotted five times since jail break

Wednesday 6 September 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, has been spotted five times since he escaped Thursday from the Chester State Prison.

The most recent siting came Monday night at Longwood Gardens, where surveillance video captured him walking through the area with a duffel bag, backpack and hooded sweatshirt.

That sighting led officials to move the search area farther south after they determined that Cavalcante had likely slipped through the original perimeter, but they said his movements show he’s feeling the pressure of the massive search and that his options are dwindling.

The expanded search spurred two nearby school districts to cancel classes Tuesday as a precaution, and authorities urged residents to keep their homes and vehicles locked.

They also asked them to check the homes of vacationing neighbours and look out for missing cars, bicycles or any other mode of transportation Cavalcante could use to aid his flight.

WATCH: Escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante on the loose

Tuesday 5 September 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante’s escape is not first from a Pennsylvania lockup this year

Tuesday 5 September 2023 22:20 , Andrea Blanco

A homicide suspect was on the run for over a week after fleeing the Warren County jail on July 6 by climbing on exercise equipment, going through a window and scaling down a rope fashioned from jail bedding.

He was caught looking dirty, wet and “worn out” from living in the wilderness to evade arrest, authorities said.

On May 7, two inmates escaped from the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center by cutting a hole in a fence surrounding a recreation yard, and were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials knew they were missing. Both we captured the next week.

Man says Cavalcante broke into his home and stole food

Tuesday 5 September 2023 21:40 , Andrea Blanco

Ryan Drummond claimed in an interview with ABC that he had a close encounter with Cavalcante inside his home in Pocopson Township.

“My wife said, ‘Hey, I think there may be somebody downstairs.’ I decided to do light switches on and off again five or six times,” Mr Drummond recounted. “And then he switched the lights from downstairs three or four times, which was the moment of like, ‘Oh my God, this guy is downstairs.’”

Mr Drummond said that he checked his children were safe and eventually saw Cavalcante leave. In a separate interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mr Drummond said that Cavalcante had stolen apples, peaches, and snap peas from his kitchen.

“The last few days have been surreal. It’s tough,” Mr Drummond told the Inquirer. “We’re all jumpy, and I could see this has taken a psychological toll on my kids. If they’re in the room by themselves, they’re calling for us.”

‘He’s a bad guy’: State Police say Cavalcante is ‘desperate’ to avoid prison

Tuesday 5 September 2023 20:53 , Andrea Blanco

“You’re dealing with someone who is desperate and doesn’t want to be caught,” George Bivens, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, said during a news conference Tuesday. “If he can find some shelter, if he can find some food, he’s going to take advantage of whatever he finds.”

Authorities haven’t disclosed how Cavalcante managed to escape, saying it is under investigation. He was sentenced to life in prison last month for killing his ex-girlfriend in front of her children, and escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison.

“He’s a bad guy. He needs to be in custody and we are determined to capture him,” Bivens said.

Danelo Cavalcante spotted on trail camera

Tuesday 5 September 2023 20:23 , Andrea Blanco

Local schools closed as search widens

Tuesday 5 September 2023 19:40 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania police have shuttered local schools “out of abundance of caution” as the search for escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante enters its sixth day.

In a memo sent to parents, the Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County said that schools across the district would be closed on Tuesday as the “search situation” to find the convicted killer has now changed.

Read the letter below:

Dear KCSD Families and Staff, As a result of the escaped prisoner search, the Kennett Consolidated School District will be closed today, Tuesday, September 5. We were informed early this morning by law enforcement that the search situation has evolved and out of an abundance of caution, schools and offices will be closed today.

It is important for all members of our community to stay informed about the situation. To receive the most up-to-date information, we strongly encourage you to register for Chester County alerts at www.readychesco.org. This will ensure that you are promptly informed of any developments related to the situation.

Please be assured that we are in regular contact with the Pennsylvania State Police, Chester County Emergency Services, and the District Attorney’s office. In the event of any significant updates or changes in the situation, we will communicate with our staff and families to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

We understand that situations like these can be unsettling. The safety and security of our KCSD community remains our top priority. We are committed to taking all necessary precautions and measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dusty Blakey Superintendent

WATCH: Tension remain high as search for escaped killer continues

Tuesday 5 September 2023 19:10 , Andrea Blanco