Fugitive killer spotted overnight and changed his appearance, police say
Fugitive Killer Spotted Overnight:
Danelo Cavalcante, the convicted killer who managed to escape from a Pennsylvania prison, sent shockwaves through the region when he was spotted overnight on Saturday. Pennsylvania state police are diligently working to track him down, and it seems that Cavalcante has made efforts to alter his appearance during his 11 days on the run.
According to a statement released by Pennsylvania State Police early on Sunday, Cavalcante is now clean-shaven and dressed in a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, a black baseball cap, green prison pants, and white shoes. He was last seen in northern Chester County near Phoenixville.
Adding another layer of concern, Cavalcante is believed to be behind the wheel of a stolen 2020 white Ford Transit van with Pennsylvania plates and a refrigeration unit on top. The van was reported stolen by a local dairy farm, as confirmed by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.
In a determined effort to bring him to justice, nearly 400 officers have joined forces in a round-the-clock search operation for Cavalcante. His escape from Chester County Prison on August 31 was nothing short of daring, involving a risky maneuver where he “crab walked” between two walls, scaled a fence, and navigated razor wire.
Saturday’s sighting is just the latest in a series of credible reports. Police Lt. Col. George Bivens, who is leading the search, mentioned on Friday that there had been “probably eight or nine” other reliable sightings since Cavalcante’s escape. On Friday, two sightings were confirmed within the general perimeter where tactical teams, K-9 dogs, and a helicopter are tirelessly scouring for any sign of the fugitive, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper James Grothey.
Cavalcante’s escape came shortly after he was convicted of first-degree murder for the gruesome 2021 killing of his former girlfriend, Deborah Brandão, 33, in Chester County. Authorities revealed that Cavalcante stabbed Brandão a shocking 38 times in front of her two children, who are now under the care of her sister.
What’s even more alarming is that Cavalcante is also wanted in connection with a 2017 homicide case in Brazil, his home country, as confirmed by a US Marshals Service official.
The daring escape of this inmate, which unfolded just 30 miles west of Philadelphia, has left his victim’s family in a state of constant fear and deeply distressed nearby residents. Ryan Drummond, a local resident, recounted the terrifying encounter when he saw Cavalcante in his Pocopson Township home on the night of September 1.
Drummond described it as an “acute moment of terror” as he heard unusual noises in his house and noticed an old French door slightly ajar on the side of their deck.
“That’s when my stomach dropped,” he recounted to CNN’s Michael Smerconish.
Drummond quickly instructed his wife to call 911. He witnessed Cavalcante “walking methodically” through his kitchen into the living room before exiting the house through the French door.
Cavalcante has been spotted in and around Chester County’s Longwood Gardens multiple times over the past week. On September 2, he was captured on surveillance video roughly 1.5 miles from the prison, authorities revealed. On the following Monday, a security camera recorded him at Longwood Gardens.
An area resident reported seeing Cavalcante in a creek bed on their property on Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday, a trail camera image caught Cavalcante in or around Longwood Gardens, although officials only learned of this sighting on Thursday evening, according to Bivens.
The situation became so tense that on Thursday, guests were asked to leave the botanical gardens as the entire venue closed its doors for the manhunt. Police swarmed the area but were unable to capture the elusive fugitive.
Despite Cavalcante’s evasive tactics, Bivens remains steadfast in his belief that they will ultimately apprehend him.
“We’ve got a large perimeter secured,” he confidently stated on Friday. “That is a pretty secure perimeter that we can push hard against with the tactical team.” The hunt for Danelo Cavalcante continues as law enforcement remains dedicated to ensuring the safety of the community.
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
