Danelo Cavalcante update: Escaped convict’s mother says he ‘had no choice’ in girlfriend’s murder

The manhunt for convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante continues 12 days after his escape from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania.

The convict fled the facility days after he was sentenced to life for stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao, 33, to death. He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in Brazil.

In an interview with The New York Times on Tuesday, Cavalcante’s mother Iracema Cavalcante defended her son’s actions, saying that he killed Brandao after she reportedly threatened to tell American authorities that he was being sought by Brazilian police.

“Did it happen? It happened,” Ms Cavalcante told the Times. “But it happened because of the stranglehold she put on him, the stance she took with him ... It wasn’t femicide. He had to, he had no other choice.”

In the latest update, Pennsylvania State Police said the search is now centred on South Coventry Township, warning locals that the fugitive is armed and that they should “lock all doors and windows”.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Police confirmed that Cavalcante stole a .22 calibre rifle from a home in East Nantmeal Township on Monday, whose owner fired seven shots at him as he fled.

Key Points

• Police say Danelo Cavalcante armed and urge South Coventry Township residents to ‘lock all doors and windows’

• Homeowner ‘opened fire on Cavalcante’ after he stole rifle from East Nantmeal property

• Fugitive stole white Ford van on Saturday and attempted to contact former work associate, police reveal

• Where has Cavalcante been spotted since his Pennsylvania jailbreak?

• How did the prisoner escape?

Pennsylvania police defend against criticism of Danelo Cavalcante manhunt after revealing killer is armed

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Authorities have pushed back against heavy criticism over their manhunt for escaped murder convict Danelo Cavalcante.

Pennsylvania State Police gave an update on the ongoing search for Cavalcante after it was revealed that the fugitive broke into a home in South Coventry Township on Monday night and stole a rifle.

Since his escape from Chester County Prison on 31 August, Cavalcante has travelled more than 30 miles from his initial hiding spot in Longwood Gardens. US Marshalls, FBI, SWAT teams and local and state police have scrambled to keep up with Cavalcante’s moves, despite assertions by officials that the manhunt is “wearing him down.”

During a press conference on Tuesday morning, Lt Col George Bivens downplayed the fact that Cavalcante is now armed. Mr Bivens insisted that the initially established search perimeter was strong and no mistakes were made — a perimeter that had to be repeatedly expanded as Cavalcante kept sneaking past it, until it was dropped altogether on Monday.

“We have considered him dangerous from the very start, it changes nothing,” Mr Bivens told reporters. “We just now absolutely know that he has a weapon.”

Pennsylvania police defend against criticism of Danelo Cavalcante manhunt

Police warn that escapee Danelo Cavalcante is armed. He has avoided searchers for nearly two weeks

04:00 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities warned that an escaped murderer who has evaded capture in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly two weeks was armed and urged residents Tuesday in the area where he was being pursued to lock up, secure vehicles and remain indoors.

Pennsylvania State Police posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the department was pursuing Danelo Souza Cavalcante in South Coventry Township.

Police also asked that the public call 911 if Cavalcante is seen and not to approach him.

At least one nearby school district announced early Tuesday that it would close all schools and offices for the day and another in the area planned to keep students indoors.

AP

WATCH: Police confirm escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante is ‘armed’ after stealing rifle from house

03:00 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities offer $25,000 for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture

02:00 , Andrea Blanco

For more than twelve days, Cavalcante has eluded US Marshalls, SWAT and FBI teams, state police and several local law enforcement agencies.

The reward offered for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture has been increased to $25,000.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens said that Cavalcante is now armed and the concern remains that he could manage to steal another vehicle to move farther away from the East Nantmeal Township and South Coventry Township area.

Police hunting Danelo Cavalcante zero in on South Coventry Township

01:00 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania State Police provided an update on the ongoing search for the escaped killer as the search for Cavalcante entered its 12th.

Lt Col George Bivens had previously said on Monday that the manhunt had moved from a containment-focused search to one where other investigative resources are being allocated across northern Chester County.

Over the weekend, Cavalcante managed to steal a van near a dairy farm in Longwood Gardens, in Popocson Township — where he had been hiding since his escape from Chester County Prison on 31 August.

The fugitive drove the white 2020 Ford Transit van more than 20 miles to Phoenixville and unsuccessfully tried to get help from two former coworkers who were not home when Cavalcante showed up at their door.

The van was later found abandoned in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, where a “massive sweep” was launched on Monday with the help of 600 law enforcement personnel.

Then on Monday night, Cavalcante broke inside a garage in South Coventry Township and stole a .22 calibre rifle. A homeowner opened fire on Cavalcante but the fugitive is believed to have fled the scene uninjured.

Mr Bivens said that police had faced challenges securing the perimeter due to several underground tunnels and “very large drainage ditches” in wooded areas close to Longwood Gardens.

US Marshals Service supervising deputy Robert Clark said he believed Cavalcante’s mobilisation to more urban East Nantmeal Township would work to the advantage of law enforcement looking for him.

Former NYPD sergeant says that Pennsylvania authorities face challenges in ‘difficult terrain'

Wednesday 13 September 2023 00:00 , Andrea Blanco

Retired NYPD Sergeant Joseph Giacalone told Insider that it was only a matter of time for Pennsylvania authorities to capture Cavalcante.

Mr Giacalone, an adjunct professor at New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, told the outlet that the delay in arresting the fugitive was in great part due to the difficulty in securing the search perimeter.

“This is like hide-and-go-seek, but at a massive level,” Mr Giacalone said. “The terrain is very difficult ... There’s plenty of places to hide, whether it’s the densely populated woods, the cornfields, the barns,” as well as culverts and creeks.

He added: “You can’t blame the cops — they’re pulling out all the stops.”

Cavalcante’s moves since his prison escape on 31 August

Tuesday 12 September 2023 23:00 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante has managed to sneak past the established perimeter established by law enforcement.

Around 500 officers were hunting for Cavalcante on 12 September as one school district remained closed and residents were told to secure their homes and be vigilant.

The search is focused on South Coventry Township in Chester County — near Route 23 to the North, Route 100 to the East, Fairview and Nantmeal roads to the South and Iron Bridge and County Park roads to the West.

Danelo Cavalcante’s mother defends his murders and says ‘everyone is lying about him’

Tuesday 12 September 2023 21:05 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante’s mother Iracema Cavalcante said in an interview with The New York Times that she believes her son is better off dead than spending the rest of his life behind bars over the April 2021 murder of his former girlfriend Deborah Brandao.

“If it’s to go to a place to suffer and die in that place, it’s better to die soon,” Ms Cavalcante told the Times on Tuesday. “You don’t have to suffer so much.”

Read more:

Danelo Cavalcante’s mother defends his murders and says ‘everyone is lying about him’

Police warn that escapee Danelo Cavalcante is armed

Tuesday 12 September 2023 20:00 , Andrea Blanco

A homeowner reportedly opened fire on escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante after he broke into his home and stole a .22 caliber rifle.

A man fired seven times at Cavalcante after the convicted prisoner broke into his home in East Nantmeal on Monday night, FOX 29 reported.

Police confirmed the shooting at a press conference on Tuesday morning, saying Cavalcante is “armed and dangerous” and a search of the area near the home was fruitless.

Pennsylvania State Police said its search is now centred on South Coventry Township in Chester County, warning locals that the fugitive is armed and that they should “lock all doors and windows” as a precaution.

It comes after police responded to reports of gunshots in Coventryville Road in East Nantmeal Township on Monday night.

Philadelphia ABC station WPVI reported a homeowner shot at someone matching Cavalcante’s description.

Officers reportedly recovered the green hoodie and shoes the prisoner was pictured wearing over the weekend.

Where has Danelo Cavalcante been spotted since his Pennsylvania jailbreak?

Tuesday 12 September 2023 19:30 , Andrea Blanco

It’s been 12 days since murder convict Danelo Cavalcante escaped from a prison in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Cavalcante, 34, has not only eluded hundreds of US Marshalls, SWAT, FBI and state and local law enforcement officers — he has also managed to sneak past the established search perimeter time and time again and is now armed.

Over the weekend, the fugitive drove more than 25 miles from his initial hiding spot in Longwood Gardens after stealing a van that he then discarded in East Nantmeal Township. Then on Monday night, he broke inside a garage in South Coventry Township and stole a .22 rifle before fleeing the scene.

Residents of the suburban Pennsylvania county are growing increasingly frustrated as police scramble to keep up with Cavalcante’s moves.

The Independent reports:

Where has Danelo Cavalcante been spotted since his Pennsylvania jailbreak?

Cavalcante not believed to be injured, police say

Tuesday 12 September 2023 19:00 , Andrea Blanco

Lt Col told CNN that there was no evidence suggesting Cavalcante had suffered injuries during a confrontation with a South Coventry Township homeowner who shot at the fugitive after he stole a .22 rifle.

“Throughout this, I’ve maintained a high level of confidence. I would hope that we’re able to get him in this perimeter. We’re going to search and I anticipate we will find him in there. All I can tell you is we will do our absolute best. We will capture him one way or another,” Mr Bivens said.

“There is no blood or anything on sight that leads us to believe that [the homeowner] wounded Cavalcante — it was just enough to force Cavalcante to back out of the premises and back out into the woods.”

Governor says officials are ‘focused on apprehending’ Cavalcante

Tuesday 12 September 2023 18:24 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro addressed the ongoing manhunt for Cavalcante during a short meeting With the press on Tuesday afternoon.

“This is a moment you have to realize that, the gig is almost up,” Gov Shapiro said, according to NBC. “What we are focused on is apprehending him.”

Cavalcante has avoided searchers for nearly two weeks

Tuesday 12 September 2023 17:50 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities warned that an escaped murderer who has evaded capture in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly two weeks was armed and urged residents Tuesday in the area where he was being pursued to lock up, secure vehicles and remain indoors.

Pennsylvania State Police posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the department was pursuing Danelo Souza Cavalcante in South Coventry Township. Police also asked that the public call 911 if Cavalcante is seen and not to approach him.

At least one nearby school district announced early Tuesday that it would close all schools and offices for the day and another in the area planned to keep students indoors.

Pennsylvania police defend against criticism of Danelo Cavalcante manhunt after revealing killer is armed

Tuesday 12 September 2023 17:04 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities have pushed back against heavy criticism over their manhunt for escaped murder convict Danelo Cavalcante.

Pennsylvania State Police gave an update on the ongoing search for Cavalcante after it was revealed that the fugitive broke into a home in South Coventry Township on Monday night and stole a rifle.

Since his escape from Chester County Prison on 31 August, Cavalcante has travelled more than 30 miles from his initial hiding spot in Longwood Gardens. US Marshalls, FBI, SWAT teams and local and state police have scrambled to keep up with Cavalcante’s moves, despite assertions by officials that the manhunt is “wearing him down.”

Read more:

Pennsylvania police defend against criticism of Danelo Cavalcante manhunt

How did Danelo Cavalcante escape prison?

Tuesday 12 September 2023 16:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Cavalcante climbed up a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbing over razor wire and then running across a roof before jumping to the ground — the same method an inmate used in May before he was captured within minutes.

Cavalcante’s escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

The jailbreak is being investigated by the state’s attorney’s office and a prison tower guard who failed to report it has already been fired.

Danelo Cavalcante search expanded more than 20 miles from prison after he stole dairy farm van

Tuesday 12 September 2023 15:20 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante remains on the run more than 12 days after he escaped from Chester County Prison on 31 August and Pennsylvania State Police are facing growing scrutiny after it was confirmed on Sunday that the fugitive had managed, yet again, to sneak past the search perimeter.

Lt Col George Bivens said that the convict had stolen a van from a dairy farm near Longwood Gardens botanical park, where the search was initially focused and a 10-mile perimeter had been established.

Cavalcante used the van to travel to Phoenixville, a town roughly 20 miles away from Chester County Prison and 25 miles away from the botanical garden.

Read more:

Danelo Cavalcante search expands 20 miles from prison after he stole dairy farm van

Cavalcante stole rifle from Pennsylvania homeowner

Tuesday 12 September 2023 14:51 , Andrea Blanco

PSP Lt Col George Bivens said that Cavalcante broke inside the garage of a home on Coventry Rd and stole a 22. rifle on Monday night.

The homeowner opened fire on Cavalcante and called authorities but the fugitive managed to flee the scene before law enforcement arrived.

Lt Col Bivens said that authorities are now searching the area, and urged residents to secure their homes and remain cautious.

The home where Cavalcante was last seen is in close proximity to the area where he abandoned a stolen van over the weekend in East Nantmeal Township.

WATCH: Police provide update on Danelo Cavalcante search after prison escape

Tuesday 12 September 2023 14:34 , Andrea Blanco

Danelo Cavalcante’s sightings since his escape on 31 August

Tuesday 12 September 2023 14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s a look at where the escapee has been spotted around Pennsylvania over the last 12 days.

Pennsylvania State Police to give press conference this morning

Tuesday 12 September 2023 13:25 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest from law enforcement on the Cavalcante situation:

Recap: Homeowner ‘opens fire on Danelo Cavalcante’ after he stole rifle from Pennsylvania home

Tuesday 12 September 2023 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

In case you missed the dramatic developments overnight, Martha McHardy has the latest.

Homeowner ‘opens fire on Danelo Cavalcante’ after he stole rifle from home

Pennsylvania State Police sent out audio alert to local residents of search area on Tuesday morning

Tuesday 12 September 2023 12:30 , Joe Sommerlad

You can hear their message below:

Fugitive has changed his appearance, police say

Tuesday 12 September 2023 12:00 , Andrea Blanco

Doorbell video images released on Sunday showed Cavalcante to be now clean-shaven and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants and white shoes.

Authorities have warned the public that Cavalcante is believed to be “extremely dangerous” and have asked anyone who comes in contact with him to immediately call 911.

Owen J Roberts School District closes all schools and offices for the day to safeguard students and staff as manhunt intensifies

Tuesday 12 September 2023 11:30 , Joe Sommerlad

Local school superintendent Will Stout has annouced that all of its properties within the search area will be closed on Tuesday to safeguard students and staff, acknowledging that the situation is “stressful and upsetting for our entire community”.

Search continues around Route 100 and Route 23: ‘Strong police presence and roads are closed’

Tuesday 12 September 2023 11:00 , Joe Sommerlad

North Coventry Police have just posted this update on their website:

“Officers from around the area are searching the area around Route 100 and Route 23 for escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante.  There is a strong police presence and roads are closed.  Please avoid this area and stay safe.”

Reward for information about Cavalcante increased to $25,000

Tuesday 12 September 2023 10:30 , Joe Sommerlad

US Marshalls, the FBI, and SWAT teams have joined the full-scale search for Cavalcante. Police had been planning to use close to 600 personnel Monday for “one massive sweep” of the search area, Mr Bivens said.

Local and federal police and the state’s Crime Stoppers have offered a combined $25,000 reward for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture.

Authorities have warned the public that Cavalcante is believed to be “extremely dangerous” and have asked anyone who comes in contact with him to immediately call 911.

Cavalcante climbed up a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbing over razor wire and then running across a roof before jumping to the ground — the same method an inmate used in May before he was captured within minutes.

Cavalcante’s escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

The jailbreak is being investigated by the state’s attorney’s office and a prison tower guard who failed to report it has already been fired.

Anyone with information about Cavalcante’s current whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the US Marshals’ Tipline at 877-WANTED-2.

Homeowner ‘opened fire on Cavalcante’ after he stole rifle from East Nantmeal property

Tuesday 12 September 2023 10:05 , Joe Sommerlad

Earlier, police issued a shelter-in-place order for parts of East Nantmeal after a local resident reportedly got into a dramatic shootout with the escaped prisoner after he broke into his home and stole a gun, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia.

The network reports that the homeowner fired seven times on Cavalcante after he broke into his home and stole a .22 calibre rifle.

Police have yet to confirm the shooting or if the escapee was injured but officers did respond to reports of gunshots near Coventryville and Ridge Roads on Monday night.

Fox also reports that offers Cavalcante’s green hoodie and shoes were recoved by law enforcement on Monday and an updated description from Pennsylvania State Police describes him as shirtless, wearing blue trousers and carrying a .22 cutoff rile, with a 10-round magazine and a scope.

Police say Cavalcante armed and urge South Coventry Township residents to ‘lock all doors and windows'

Tuesday 12 September 2023 09:35 , Joe Sommerlad

Here’s the latest update from Pennsylvania State Police:

Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE as police reveal his attempts to contact coworkers

Tuesday 12 September 2023 09:00 , Andrea Blanco

The sister of a dangerous fugitive whose prison escape more than a week ago triggered a full-scale manhunt in Pennsylvania has been arrested by US immigration authorities.

Cavalcante escaped while he was awaiting transfer to state prison.

He was sentenced to life for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao.

Read more:

Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE as police and facing deportation

Pennsylvania State Police say Cavalcante is still believed to be in the state

Tuesday 12 September 2023 08:30 , Andrea Blanco

US Marshals Service supervising deputy Robert Clark said he believed Cavalcante’s mobilisation to more urban East Nantmeal Township would work to the advantage of law enforcement looking for him.

“I think the advantage switched to law enforcement. Before it was advantageous to Cavalcante while he was playing tactical hide and seek in the woods,” Mr Clark said. “Now it’s an advantage to law enforcement because he’s in an urban area and that’s what the US Marshalls do best and we’re forced-multiplied by other local and state agencies.”

Lt Col George Bivens with Pennsylvania State Police said that he is confident Cavalcante remains in Pennsylvania as he “does not have the resources” to leave the state.

“We don’t have a defined search area at this point,” Mr Bivens added. “We are considering and acting and investigating any tip or piece of information we receive. There are areas in Nantmeal Township that may have more of our resources.”

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

Tuesday 12 September 2023 08:00 , 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 and Andrea Blanco report:

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

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

Tuesday 12 September 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco

Police hunting Danelo Cavalcante say it’s ‘advantage law enforcement’ as search zeroes in on township

Tuesday 12 September 2023 05:30 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities hunting for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante have said they’re hopeful their chances of capturing him will increase now that he has moved to an urban area.

Pennsylvania State Police provided an update on the ongoing search for the escaped killer as the search for Cavalcante entered its 12th day on Monday.

Lt Col George Bivens said the manhunt had moved from a containment-focused search to one where other investigative resources are being allocated across northern Chester County.

Read more:

Police hunting Danelo Cavalcante say it’s ‘advantage law enforcement’

Cavalcante steals van and drives 25 miles from initial hiding spot

Tuesday 12 September 2023 04:00 , Andrea Blanco

The fugitive showed up at an old associate’s home around 9.50pm on Sunday and requested through the doorbell camera to meet with him.

The individual was out having dinner with his family and did not immediately respond to Cavalcante. He later alerted local police of the sighting.

Doorbell video images showed Cavalcante to be now clean-shaven and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants and white shoes.

The fugitive then travelled to the home of another former coworker’s home in Phoenixville. A female who was at the home when Cavalcante rang the bell called a friend, who eventually informed law enforcement about the sighting.

Then, around 10.40am on Sunday, police found the van that Cavalcant had stolen in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, about 15 miles from Phoenixville. Lt Col Bivens said he believed Cavalcante abandoned the vehicle at least in part because it was low on fuel.

Authorities are concerned that he would attempt to obtain another vehicle or has already done so.

Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE

Tuesday 12 September 2023 02:30 , Andrea Blanco

State police have confirmed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Cavalcante’s sister Eleni Cavalcante over “some immigration issues”. She faces the possibility of deportation, Lt Col George Bivens said.

Mr Bivens didn’t say whether she is suspected of helping her brother. Cavalcante escaped while he was awaiting transfer to state prison. He was sentenced to life for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao.

It’s not Cavalcante’s first time being on the run. Right after he stabbed Brandao to death in front of her children in April 2021, Cavalcante was briefly on the run before he was arrested in Virginia and extradited to Pennsylvania.

During his trial earlier this year, Eleni Cavalcante’s boyfriend Francisco Lima testified that he had helped Cavalcante escape following the brutal stabbing, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Mr Lima, who received immunity in exchange for his testimony, said that he had bandaged Cavalcante’s wounds, given him a clean change of clothes and put gas in his car so he could drive out of state.

Incident Command Center Where PA State Troopers, US Border Patrol, Chester County Emergency Management, and FBI collaborate on the manhunt for Cavalcante

Police say Danelo Cavalcante has changed his appearance as escaped killer is spotted again

Tuesday 12 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania State Police said a clean-shaven Cavalcante was spotted near Phoenixville in northern Chester County overnight on Saturday.

They released four images of the smirking murderer wearing a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants, and white shoes.

The Independent’s Bevan Hurley reports:

Police say Danelo Cavalcante has changed his appearance as he is spotted again

Where has Danelo Cavalcante been spotted since his Pennsylvania jailbreak?

Monday 11 September 2023 23:21 , Andrea Blanco

Danelo Cavalcante’s former roommate speaks out about ‘quiet and shy guy’ murder convict

Monday 11 September 2023 20:28 , Andrea Blanco

A former roommate of Danelo Cavalcante is cooperating with Pennsylvania authorities as the manhunt for the escaped murder convict drags on.

Read more:

‘No containment area,’ police say

Monday 11 September 2023 19:17 , Andrea Blanco

State Police Lt Col George Bivens said during a press conference on Monday that although the search perimeter he previously established was “very strong,” there was currently no containment. However, Cavalcante is still believed to be in Pennsylvania.

Mr Bivens went on to say that Cavalcante’s sister had been arrested by ICE for overstaying her visa. Mr Bivens said that she had not cooperated with the investigation.

Danelo Cavalcante search expands more than 20 miles from prison after he stole dairy farm van

Monday 11 September 2023 17:39 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania authorities have been forced to expand the search perimeter in their manhunt for escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante after he stole a transit van and drove to the homes of former associates.

Cavalcante, 34, remains on the run more than 10 days after he escaped from Chester County Prison on 31 August. Pennsylvania State Police are facing growing scrutiny after it was confirmed on Sunday that Cavalcante had managed, yet again, to sneak past the search perimeter.

Read more:

Cavalante has visited the home of former coworkers, police say

Monday 11 September 2023 16:04 , Andrea Blanco

The fugitive showed up at an old associate’s home around 9.50pm on Sunday and requested through the doorbell camera to meet with him.

The individual was out having dinner with his family and did not immediately respond to Cavalcante. He later alerted local police of the sighting.

Doorbell video images showed Cavalcante to be now clean-shaven and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants and white shoes.

The fugitive then travelled to the home of another former coworker’s home in Phoenixville. A female who was at the home when Cavalcante rang the bell called a friend, who eventually informed law enforcement about the sighting.

Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE as police reveal his attempts to contact coworkers

Monday 11 September 2023 14:37 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Biven revealed that Cavalcante’s sister Eleni Cavalcante was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement over “some immigration issues.

Ms Cavalcante reportedly faces deportation.

Read more:

Danelo Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE as police and facing deportation

Pennsylvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

Monday 11 September 2023 14:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Residents of the suburban Pennsylvania county where a full-scale manhunt is underway for an escaped inmate have said they can’t understand why it has taken authorities so long to capture the “extremely dangerous” killer.

The manhunt for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante entered its eighth day on Thursday as several law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshals, SWAT, and local and state police, continue searching a vast wooded area in Chester County where he is believed to be hiding.

Read the full story:

Pennsyvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

Cavalcante’s sister arrested by ICE

Monday 11 September 2023 13:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Also during Sunday’s press conference, Lt Col Bivens revealed that the fugitive’s sister Eleni Cavalcante had been arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

She faces possible deportation over “some immigration issues”, he said, declining to answer reporters’ questions about whether the arrest had any connection to her sibling’s efforts to elude police capture.

Fugitive stole white Ford van on Saturday and attempted to contact former work associate, police reveal

Monday 11 September 2023 12:32 , Joe Sommerlad

Police searching for Danelo Cavalcante said on Sunday that the fugitive stole a white Ford van on Saturday just outside the area law enforcement was monitoring around the prison and used it to travel approximately 25 miles to the township of East Pikeland.

The van’s keys had been left inside the vehicle, police said.

Cavalcante then attempted to contact a former work associate at his residence and was captured on video by the doorbell camera.

Screenshots of the video circulated by police earlier show Cavalcante had changed his appearance to elude capture including shaving his beard and moustache.

“You will note that Cavalcante is now clean shaven and wearing a bright green hooded sweatshirt,” lieutenant colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters.

Lt Col Bivens said the fugitive attempted to contact a second work associate on Saturday night in Phoenixville, about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia, but once again the individual was not home. A neighbour noticed Cavalcante and notified authorities.

Police said it recovered the stolen van in a field on Sunday morning, but Cavalcante was nowhere to be found.

“No perimeter is 100 per cent secure, ever,” Bevins said in response to questions from the media about how the fugitive could elude such a large law enforcement effort, with hundreds of officers involved in the search.

“I am confident we will capture him, and we will bring him back into the criminal justice system.”

There have been multiple sightings of Cavalcante since his jail break.

Last week, school districts in the area cancelled classes for a day after one such sighting, officials said.

Police have offered up to $20,000 for tips leading to his capture.

Bevan Hurley has the latest.

Police say Danelo Cavalcante has changed his appearance as he is spotted again

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

Monday 11 September 2023 10:00 , 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.”

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

Monday 11 September 2023 07:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Shocking footage shows Danelo Cavalcente’s escape from a Pennsylvania prison by shimmying himself up a between two walls.

The criminal broke out of Chester County Prison, southwest of Philadelphia, by climbing between two walls and jumping onto the prison’s roof from the exercise yard.

Cavalcante is thought to have escaped at around 8:50am on 31 August 2023 and is still on the run.

Police believe the manhunt is “wearing Cavalcante down” and are confident of finding him soon.

Cavalcante was in prison for life without parole for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandão.

IN PICTURES: The search for Danelo Cavalcante

Monday 11 September 2023 04:00 , Andrea Blanco

What does Danelo Cavalcante look like?

Monday 11 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

In an image previously released by the Chester County District Attorney, Cavalcante was wearing trousers, 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.”

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.

Cavalcante has so far eluded hundreds of law officers, including tactical teams in full combat gear, tracking dogs, cops on horseback and from aircraft.

As the search continues, nervous residents remain alert for any sign of the fugitive.

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 22:00 , Andrea Blanco

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.”

Read more:

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

Police say stress is ‘wearing Cavalcante down’

Sunday 10 September 2023 19:00 , 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.”

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 16:00 , Andrea Blanco

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 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.

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

Prison officer who failed to report Danelo Cavalcante’s escape from Pennsylvania jail is fired

Sunday 10 September 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco

A prison officer who failed to report Danelo Cavalcante’s escape from a Pennsylvania jail has been fired.

The development comes just days after Chester County Prison acting Warden Howard Holland said the officer’s actions were at the centre of an investigation by the state attorney’s office.

The correctional officer had previously been placed on administrative leave after he failed to see and report Cavalcante’s escape on 31 August.

Read more:

Prison officer who failed to report Danelo Cavalcante’s jailbreak is fired

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 10:00 , 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.

Cavalcante used ‘crab-walking’ method to break free from prison

Sunday 10 September 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco

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.

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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: Cavalcante’s sightings since his escape

Sunday 10 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

Authorities said during a press conference on Thursday that the search perimeter had to be expanded to between eight to 10 square miles after Cavalcante slipped past the initial search area.

There was a possible sighting of Cavalcante on 7 September that was being investigated, state police said, but further details about the sighting and who reported it were not disclosed. It came hours after another person reported seeing Cavalcante in an area of Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township.

On 4 September, a surveillance camera on a trail had captured him walking through its grounds.

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”.

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.”

Mr Drummond said that Cavalcante entered the home through an old French door that couldn’t lock properly.

He said his nine-year-old daughter had raised fears about Cavalcante being able to gain access to the home through the door, but he tried to reassure her that the murder convict was likely far away.

“The last few days have been surreal. It’s tough,” Mr Drummond said. “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.”

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

Saturday 9 September 2023 22:00 , Andrea Blanco

Additional police officers added to manhunt

Saturday 9 September 2023 19:58 , David Taintor

Close to 400 police officers have been assigned to the manhunt to find escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante, according to CNN.

“We pulled more people in through the night last night. We have got numerous tactical teams that are out doing searches,” Pennsylvania State Police spokesman George Bivens told reporters on Friday.

Pennsyvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

Saturday 9 September 2023 19:00 , Andrea Blanco

Residents of the suburban Pennsylvania county where a full-scale manhunt is underway for an escaped inmate have said they can’t understand why it has taken authorities so long to capture the “extremely dangerous” killer.

Read more:

Pennsyvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

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

Saturday 9 September 2023 16:00 , 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 Independendent’s Faiza Saqib reports:

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

Latest sighting of fugitive killer in Pennsylvania spurs closure of popular botanical garden

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco

One of the country’s top botanical gardens has been closed indefinitely after reports that an escaped murderer on the run in southeast Pennsylvania may have once again been spotted on the property.

When Longwood Gardens closed Thursday night, people who remained on the property were told to shelter in place as law officers searched part of the site for fugitive Danelo Souza Cavalcante. The 34-year-old Brazilian man escaped from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31 by scaling a wall, climbing over razor wire and jumping from a roof.

There was a possible sighting of Cavalcante on Thursday night that was being investigated, state police said, but further details about the sighting and who reported it were not disclosed. It came hours after another person reported seeing Cavalcante in another area of the vast botanical garden.

On Monday night, a surveillance camera on a trail had captured him walking through its grounds.

Authorities offer $20,000 reward for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture

Saturday 9 September 2023 10:00 , 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.

WATCH: Behind the scenes look at police manhunt for escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante

Saturday 9 September 2023 07:00 , Andrea Blanco

Why was Danelo Cavalcante sentenced to life in prison?

Saturday 9 September 2023 04:00 , 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.

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 near by, 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.

“I haven’t slept for many days,” Ms Brandao said. “I have been waking up with fright at night.”

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said during a press conference on Thursday that Ms Brandao and her family are being protected by police.

“They do have protection and they are terrified. They haven’t left their home, they’re barricaded inside their home and they are very scared,” Ms Ryan said. “We do have police detail surrounding the home but I know they are very scared and very, very worried.”

ICYMI: What we know about Cavalcante’s escape

Saturday 9 September 2023 01:00 , Andrea Blanco

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

At the time, other inmates in the exercise yard were playing basketball. Video of the incident showed him crab-walking up a wall and pushing through razor wire in order to gain access to the prison’s roof.

He then jumped down into another area of the prison and left on foot. The unconventional method is exactly the same that was used by another inmate back in May, Chester County Prison acting Warden Howard Holland said.

During that incident, the inmate was captured within minutes after a tower officer reported the break to prison staff. In Cavalcante’s case, the tower officer tasked with surveilling the escape route failed to report the jailbreak, which went unnoticed for nearly an hour.

Cavalcante’s absence was only noticed during a head count when his block returned back inside around 9.50am after the basketball game. The jail was then put into lockdown and the 911 centre was notified 10 minutes later.

Mr Holland said the tower officer who failed to report the escape is now on administrative leave and his performance is at the centre of an investigation by the state attorney’s office. The acting warden said that appropriate action would be taken against personnel based on the results of the investigation.

Mr Holland said that following the escape attempt in May, the prison had brought consultants in to increase security at the facility. Razor wire — which Cavalcante pushed through — was placed to prevent access to the roof, but officials didn’t expect “the human element” to fail, Mr Holland said.

“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.”

Mr Holland declined to say what the prison officer was believed to be doing during the escape, only noting that he was at the post.

Authorities offer $20,000 reward for information that leads to Cavalcante’s capture

Friday 8 September 2023 22:00 , 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.

Prison officer who failed to report Danelo Cavalcante’s escape from Pennsylvania jail is fired

Friday 8 September 2023 21:57 , Andrea Blanco

The development comes just days after Chester County Prison acting Warden Howard Holland said the officer’s actions were at the centre of an investigation by the state attorney’s office.

The correctional officer failed to see and report Cavalcante’s escape on 31 August.

Read more:

Pennsylvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

Friday 8 September 2023 20:25 , Andrea Blanco

Residents of the suburban Pennsylvania county where a full-scale manhunt is underway for an escaped inmate have said they can’t understand why it has taken authorities so long to capture the “extremely dangerous” killer.

The manhunt for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante entered its eighth day on Thursday as several law enforcement agencies, including the US Marshals, SWAT, and local and state police, continue searching a vast wooded area in Chester County where he is believed to be hiding.

The initial search perimeter set up following Cavalcante’s escape from the county’s prison on 31 August had to be expanded yet again on Tuesday after the fugitive was spotted in a creek bed in Pennsbury Township. Cavalcante is now thought to be somewhere near routes 926 and 52, Hillendale Road and Creek Road.

Residents of Pocopson and Pennsbury townships have voiced fears that Cavalcante, who was recently sentenced to life in prison for killing his ex-girlfriend, could break into their homes. A West Chester resident previously said the fugitive, described by authorities as “extremely dangerous,” gained access to his home in the middle of the night and stole food and supplies.

Pennsyvania residents want to know why it’s taking so long to catch Danelo Cavalcante

Latest sighting of fugitive killer in Pennsylvania spurs closure of popular botanical garden

Friday 8 September 2023 18:15 , Andrea Blanco

One of the country’s top botanical gardens has been closed indefinitely after reports that an escaped murderer on the run in southeast Pennsylvania may have once again been spotted on the property.

When Longwood Gardens closed Thursday night, people who remained on the property were told to shelter in place as law officers searched part of the site for fugitive Danelo Souza Cavalcante. The 34-year-old Brazilian man escaped from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31 by scaling a wall, climbing over razor wire and jumping from a roof.

There was a possible sighting of Cavalcante on Thursday night that was being investigated, state police said, but further details about the sighting and who reported it were not disclosed. It came hours after another person reported seeing Cavalcante in another area of the vast botanical garden.

On Monday night, a surveillance camera on a trail had captured him walking through its grounds.

WATCH: CCTV footage shows Danelo Calvacante's prison escape

Friday 8 September 2023 17:14 , Andrea Blanco

Prison warden on administrative leave amid investigation into jail escape

Friday 8 September 2023 15:36 , 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.

Authorities try to flush out escaped murderer in suburban Philadelphia manhunt

Friday 8 September 2023 13:30 , Andrea Blanco

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

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, has been spotted several 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.

Sister of woman murdered by ‘dangerous’ fugitive says she hasn’t slept since he went on run

Friday 8 September 2023 13:00 , Andrea Blanco

The sister of Danelo Cavalcante’s victim has revealed that her life has been tarnished with overwhelming fear since the convict’s escape from prison last week.

Sarah Brandao, sister of the victim Deborah Brandao said in an interview that since Cavalcante’s jailbreak last week, “I have been waking up with fright at night”.

Deborah Brandao was stabbed 38 times by her ex-boyfriend Danelo Cavalcante with a kitchen knife in Schuylkill Township Chester in County, Pennsylvania, back in April 2021.

Sarah Brandao told CNN: “I haven’t slept for many days.” She also recounted the day she was told about her sister’s murder. She said her “world ended”.

Read more:

Sister of woman murdered by fugitive says she hasn’t slept since his jailbreak