Danelo Souza Cavalcante, a 34-year-old Brazilian national, remains elusive in southeast Pennsylvania despite a week-long massive manhunt involving tactical teams, tracking dogs, mounted police, and aircraft. Residents remain vigilant as the search intensifies.
Manhunt continues following escape similar to previous one
Cavalcante’s audacious escape from the Chester County Prison on August 31 involved scaling a wall, maneuvering past razor wire, and leaping from a roof. Surprisingly, prison guards didn’t detect this for an entire hour. An almost identical breakout occurred there earlier in May.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan expressed her dismay at a press conference, stating, “This is an outrage. It never should have happened.”
There have been eight possible sightings of Cavalcante since his escape, the most recent being on Thursday, shared by state police Lt. Col. George Bivens.
Residents, while apprehensive, appreciate the heavy police presence. Jennie Brown, a local living about 1.5 miles from the prison, described her mixed emotions, saying she’s simultaneously “scared and safe.” She added that many residents had officers guarding their homes during the night.
Given Cavalcante’s circumstances, officials believe his desperation is growing. Bivens revealed that the escapee might have sourced some clothes and supplies, and a $20,000 reward is now in place for information that leads to his capture.
Danelo Souza Cavalcante still missing
Cavalcante was serving a life sentence for murdering his ex-girlfriend in 2021, a crime to silence her from revealing another alleged murder he committed in Brazil in 2017. After this crime, authorities suspect he attempted to flee to Brazil, only to be captured in Virginia.
The escape has garnered significant media attention, with reports even reaching Brazilian newspapers.
Despite heightened security measures taken by Chester County Prison after the May escape, Cavalcante’s escape indicates lapses in security. “Obviously it was inadequate. Hindsight is 20/20,” commented Howard Holland, the acting prison warden.
Among the incidents related to the escapee, Ryan Drummond, a local resident, recounted a frightening encounter. He believed Cavalcante had entered his home last Friday. Drummond described the chilling moment of communicating with the intruder via flickering hall lights. The intruder left soon after, possibly with some stolen fruit.
The global spotlight is now on Chester County, awaiting updates on this intense manhunt.
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