Danelo Cavalcante update: Pennsylvania manhunt widens and schools shutter five days after prison escape

The manhunt for convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante has now widened and local schools have been shuttered after he was spotted on trail camera footage breaking past a police perimeter on Monday night.

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison, Pennsylvania, 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 six-day 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, in a morning update on Tuesday, police revealed that Cavalcante had been caught on camera managing to sneak past the perimeter the night before. As a result, police have now expanded the police perimeter and shuttered the Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester Count “out of abundance of caution”.

Members of the public have been urged to secure their homes, outbuildings and vehicles 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?

Search for Danelo Cavalcante enters seventh day

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

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

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

07:00 , Andrea Blanco

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

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.”

Read more:

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

WATCH: Tension remain high as search for escaped killer continues

05:00 , Andrea Blanco

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

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

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.

Read the full story:

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

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

Manhunt launched for ‘extremely dangerous’ murder convict who escaped Pennsylvania jail

Tuesday 5 September 2023 18:35 , Andrea Blanco

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.

Read more:

Manhunt begins for ‘extremely dangerous’ murder convict who escaped Pennsylvania jail

Schools closed out as manhunt for murder convict continues

Tuesday 5 September 2023 17:16 , 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.

Pennsylvania authorities extend search

Tuesday 5 September 2023 16:50 , Andrea Blanco

Pennsylvania State Police confirmed on Tuesday that searches for Cavalcante had been extended to a two-mile radio.

Cavalcante was last seen on surveillance video at a train station in East Marlborough Township on Monday.

What did Danelo Cavalcante do?

Tuesday 5 September 2023 16:30 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison on Thursday days after he was sentenced to life without parole for stabbing his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão to death.

The killer stabbed Brandão to death 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 murder in 2017 in Brazil.

Prosecutors argued in court that Cavalcante killed Brandão to prevent her from telling American police that he was being sought in Brazil for murder.

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

Tuesday 5 September 2023 16:10 , Rachel Sharp

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.

How did Danelo Cavalcante escape?

Tuesday 5 September 2023 16:01 , Andrea Blanco

Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison shortly before 9am on 31 August.

According to the Chester County District Attorney’s office, he was seen walking on Wawaser Road in Popconson Township.

Authorities have not elaborated on how Cavalcante was able to escape the prison but said the incident is now under investigation.

The escaped murderer was captured on the trail camera at Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, at 8.21pm on Monday.

He was then spotted coming past the camera again at 9.33pm local time.

Pennsylvania police shutter local schools as search widens

Tuesday 5 September 2023 15:50 , Rachel Sharp

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 BlakeySuperintendent

Danelo Cavalcante spotted on trail camera breaking out of police parimeter

Tuesday 5 September 2023 15:30 , Rachel Sharp

In a press conference on Tuesday morning, officials said that Danelo Cavalcante had been caught on a trail camera on Monday night managing to escape the two-mile radius which had been surrounded by law enforcement.

The escaped murderer was captured on the trail camera at Longwood Gardens in East Marlborough Township, Chester County, at 8.21pm travelling one direction.

He was then spotted coming past the camera again at 9.33pm local time.

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

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

Members of the public were urged to secure their homes, outbuildings and vehicles and to contact police if they spot the killer.

WATCH: Escaped killer spotted on the run

Tuesday 5 September 2023 15:20 , Rachel Sharp

The prison escape: How Danelo Cavalcante broke out of Chester County prison

Tuesday 5 September 2023 15:10 , Rachel Sharp

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison at around 8.50am on Thursday morning – days after he was sentenced to life without parole for murder.

Cavalcante was convicted of stabbing his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandão to death back in August 2021.

The killer attacked Brandão in Schuylkill Township in front of her two children, who were just seven and three years old.

He is also wanted for a murder in 2017 in Brazil.

Few details have been released about how he was able to escape from the facility.

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

Tuesday 5 September 2023 15:05 , Rachel Sharp

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 full story:

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

Welcome to The Independent’s live blog

Tuesday 5 September 2023 14:59 , Rachel Sharp

Follow updates on the manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante who escaped from Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania on Thursday.