CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA: The Pennsylvania State Police are still actively searching for the Brazilian fugitive Danelo Cavalcante, 34, who escaped from prison on Thursday, August 31, and have enlisted his mother’s help in the search.
Cavalcante fled from Chester County Prison in West Chester, which is located at an hour’s drive from Philadelphia, around 8.45 am on Thursday.
Since then, the police have embarked on an extensive search to find the fugitive. They have even enlisted the help of his mother who is in Brazil and recorded a message in her voice.
The message, recorded in Portuguese and asking him to surrender to the authorities, is being blasted from the police speakers from patrol cars and helicopters since Sunday, September 3.
Rob Clark with the US Marshals Office said on Monday, September 4, "That was broadcast through the helicopter yesterday and through the patrol cars in the hopes that perhaps, 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.”
Clark added, per CBS News, "He's desperate, he's hungry, he's been in the woods, he's dirty, perhaps this is what puts him over the edge so that we can get a peaceful surrender."
Cavalcante is a Brazilian national who can speak Portuguese and Spanish fluently. He also speaks some English.
Where is Danelo Cavalcante now?
The authorities said that after fleeing the Chester County jail on Thursday, Cavalcante has been sighted at least four confirmed times.
He was sighted in a 2-mile radius and the search has been concentrated in the area around Pocopson Township.
Clark said further, "When you talk a 2-mile radius, you've got to remember this is a 5-foot tall gentleman, 120 pounds, and this is a heavily, heavily wooded area," before adding, "It's very, very thick back there. There's a lot of ravines. There's a lot of hiding spots."
As per Pennsylvania State Police Lt Colonel George Bivens, he was last seen on Sunday afternoon. Col Bivens said, "It was a trooper, actually, that observed him at some distance, gave chase, but was unable because of the terrain and some other obstacles there, was unable to get to him before he disappeared.”
Is Danelo Cavalcante dangerous?
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said on September 2, “We are requesting that residents in the area of Pocopson Township remain inside, lock your doors, lock your cars. He is still considered an extremely dangerous individual,” per ABC News.
This was echoed by Col Bivens, who urged people to stay alert for burglaries. He said, “They've asked that people in the community check on their neighbors.”
"He is going to be looking for a means to sustain himself," Bivens said before adding, "He's going to need clothing. He's going to need food and just to get in out of the weather. It's pretty hot out there."
Why was Danelo Cavalcante convicted?
Cavalcante was convicted of first-degree murder for killing his girlfriend Debora Brandao, 33, in April 2021. He fatally stabbed her 28 times in front of her two children.
Cavalcante was convicted on August 16 and given a life sentence. He is wanted for a homicide in Brazil too.
The Marshals Service and the Chester County District Attorney's Office are now offering a combined $10,000 reward for any tip leading to Cavalcante’s arrest.
