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What To Know About The Search For The Chester County Escaped Prisoner Danelo Cavalcante

By Rachel Pitts

Danelo Souza Cavalcante escaped from the Chester County Prison on Thursday, August 31, 2023. This was after he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the first-degree murder of his former girlfriend. He was going to be moved to another state prison but escaped before he was transferred.

Cavalcante is 5 feet tall, 120 pounds, and has brown eyes and long dark curly hair. He was wearing a prison-issued uniform when he escaped, consisting of a white T-shirt, white sneakers, and green pants. He was also wearing a backpack.

Officials have said that Cavalcante is extremely dangerous. A reward of $25,000 is now being offered for information leading to his arrest.

If you see Danelo Cavalcante, call 911 or 1-877-926-8332 immediately. You can also contact PA Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS.

Danelo Cavalcante, 34 years old, was convicted of killing his former girlfriend in Schuylkill Township in 2021. He stabbed her 38 times while her two young children were present. He is also wanted for a 2017 murder in his native Brazil and allegedly killed his former girlfriend to keep her from telling police about his wanted status in Brazil. He landed in Pennsylvania via Puerto Rico after reportedly obtaining a fake ID.

Officials are using tactics to stress the escaped prisoner with the hope he will surrender and turn himself in.

On Monday, September 4th, Pennsylvania State Police took over the investigation. At that time there were 4 sightings of Cavalcante since he escaped.

Here is what you need to know about the manhunt for the Chester County escaped prisoner, Danelo Cavalcante.

  • Day 14, September 13, 2023 At 8:14am

    He has been captured. News broke just around 8:30a that Cavalcante was in police custody. He was found wearing an Eagles sweatshirt.

    FOX 29 on Twitter: "CAPTURED: Danelo Cavalcante was taken into custody Wednesday morning after a nearly two-week search for the convicted murderer who escaped prison.MORE: https://t.co/6AMvUEWaB2 pic.twitter.com/qSjk47N8Vc / Twitter"

    CAPTURED: Danelo Cavalcante was taken into custody Wednesday morning after a nearly two-week search for the convicted murderer who escaped prison.MORE: https://t.co/6AMvUEWaB2 pic.twitter.com/qSjk47N8Vc

  • Day 13, September 12

    Police seem to be closing in on Cavalcante in Northern Chester County. Schools in the Owen J. Roberts School District have canceled classes for the day. Police have even been seen using one of the school’s parking lots as a staging area.

    Police also say Cavalcante is now armed. Residents are being allowed to leave their homes but are advised to stay vigilant and keep their doors (and car doors) locked and garages closed.

  • Day 12, September 11

    The reward has been upped to $25,000. Since the van he was suspected to be driving was dumped yesterday there is no defined search area.

  • Day 11, Sunday, September 10: On The Move

    On Saturday evening (9/10) Cavalcante was captured on a home camera near Phoenixville. This is about 40 minutes northeast of the original focused search area. Police say he has family in the area he has been spotted in and the family of the girlfriend he murdered is also in the Phoenixville area.

    The video also shows the escaped prisoner is now clean-shaven and is wearing a greenish/yellow hoodie, and hat and is still wearing his prisoner-issued green pants.

    So how did he get to Phoenixville, police believe he is also driving a white Ford transit van with a refrigeration unit with license plate ZST 8818. The van was reported stolen by a local dairy.

    Residents are urged to lock the doors to their homes and cars and to stay vigilant.

  • Friday, September 8th Update

    The search for the convicted murderer enters its 9th day on Friday, September 8th. Longwood Gardens remains closed until further notice.

    Last night (9/7) Longwood Gardens was evacuated and closed early when investigators came across surveillance video of Cavalcante once again on the Gardens’s grounds.  The PA State Police asks if you see Cavalcante or notice suspicious activity to call 911 immediately. Reward now totals up to $20,000 for tips leading to his capture.

    Pennsylvania State Police have been seen stationed every 50 yards along Baltimore Pike and Longwood Gardens. Chris O’Connell from Fox 29 also reported that the search area “has shifted West.”

    More On Cavalcante’s Background

    The Pennsylvania State Police have also released more information on Cavalcante’s background saying he may have some enhanced survival skills.

    On A Positive Note

    The Pennsylvania State Police K9 Loki who was hospitalized the other day after suffering a heat-related illness has been released and is doing better.

     

  • Video Released Showing Cavalcante’s Escape

    Survailance video has now been released of how Cavalcante escaped. An internal investigation is underway.

    Chester County District Attorney's Office on Twitter: "CHESTER COUNTY PRISON OFFICIALS RELEASE VIDEO OF DANELO CAVALCANTE'S ESCAPE FROM THE EXERCISE YARDInternal and criminal investigations into the escape of Cavalcante are ongoing, and Prison Officials will provide additional information as able. pic.twitter.com/Thg2YzAOQ0 / Twitter"

    CHESTER COUNTY PRISON OFFICIALS RELEASE VIDEO OF DANELO CAVALCANTE'S ESCAPE FROM THE EXERCISE YARDInternal and criminal investigations into the escape of Cavalcante are ongoing, and Prison Officials will provide additional information as able. pic.twitter.com/Thg2YzAOQ0

  • 3p Wednesday, September 6 Update

    He is still on the run. Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers has added additional money to the reward. The reward for information leading to Cavalcante’s capture is now up to $20,000.

    If you see Danelo Cavalcante, call 911 or 1-877-926-8332 immediately. You can also contact PA Crime Stoppers at 1-800-4PA-TIPS.

  • Day 7

    Cavalcante is still on the run. It has been 7 days since he escaped. The search perimeter has widened and he is believed to be moving south from where he was last captured on trail cameras in Longwood Gardens. He seems to be hiding during the day and moving once it gets dark.

    The Kennett Consolidated School District remains closed on Wednesday, September 6.

  • Schools In The Search Area Are Closed

    The Kennett Consolidated School District in Chester County has canceled classes for Tuesday, September 5, 2023.  Officials say the search for a convicted killer “has evolved.”

  • Spotted: 9/5/23

    Spotted by a trail camera at Longwood Gardens. This time he is not wearing the white shirt.

  • Longwood Gardens Closed

    Cavacante has been spotted by Longwood Gardens. The Gardens were closed on Sunday and Monday, and are normally closed, except to certain groups, on Tuesdays.

  • Recording Of His Mother's Voice Are Being Used

    Recordings of Cavalcante’s mother’s voice in his native language of Portuguese are being blasted to coax the fugitive to out of hiding. Her message urges her son to surrender and is being blasted from helicopters and patrol cars.

     

  • Homes Have Been Broken Into

    There have been reports of a few homes being broken into in and around the search area. One resident says Cavalcante was in his home Friday evening.

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