Manhunt For Escaped ‘Dangerous’ Murderer In ‘High Gear’ In Eastern PA

CHESTER COUNTY, PA –A team of law enforcement officials Friday pleaded for the public's help to find a convicted murderer who escaped from Chester County Prison Thursday morning.

Danelo Cavalcante, 43, was last seen at 9:40 a.m. walking southbound on Wawaset Road from the prison.

"We will stop at nothing until we bring him back, " Rob Clark, supervisor of the U.S. Fugitive Task Force for the U.S. Marshals Service. "Be vigilant. Check your property. It's Labor Day weekend. Make sure your property and your neighbor's property are secure."

State Police Captain Bob Wagner said the police have boots on the ground, and they will go nowhere until the fugitive is found.

"Unfortunately at this time he has not been located," District Attorney Deb Ryan said, during the briefing Friday afternoon. "Local, state, and federal authorities are working around the clock and we will not stop until he is in custody."

Police believe he is still in the Chester County area. West Chester University canceled their classes Friday “out of an abundance of caution.”

"We believe he is hiding somewhere and he is alone," Ryan said. "We are looking everywhere in the area including railways, the Brandywine Creek. We have reason to believe that he is moving south. He is dangerous. Do not approach him."

Ryan said there is still a $10,000 reward for any information that can be used to capture Cavalcante.

Cavalcante, a Brazilian man who speaks Portuguese and Spanish and some English, escaped from Chester County Prison at 8:50 a.m. Thursday morning and was last seen walking on Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township 50 minutes later.

Cavalcante was wearing a white T-shirt with gray shorts with white sneakers. He is 5 feet tall and 120 pounds, with black curly hair and brown eyes, officials said.

Cavalcante, a Brazilian man who speaks Portuguese and Spanish and some English, escaped from Chester County Prison at 8:50 a.m. Thursday morning and was last seen walking on Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township 50 minutes later.

Cavalcante was wearing a white T-shirt with gray shorts with white sneakers. He is 5 feet tall and 120 pounds, with black curly hair and brown eyes, officials said.

The Crime

Cavalcante was convicted on Aug. 16 of first-degree murder in the April 18, 2021 stabbing of Deborah Brandao in front of her children, ages 4 and 7, outside her home in the 300 block of Pawlings Road, Schuylkill Township.

He was sentenced on Aug. 22 in the Chester County Justice Center to life in prison after a jury deliberated for 15 minutes. On Thursday, he was awaiting transfer to state prison to serve out his sentence.

On the Run

Ryan said Cavalcante has family in Phoenixville.

"We are asking for the public’s help in locating him. If you see this individual do not approach him. Call 911," Ryan said.

Ryan said the fugitive was assisted by his family and friends in escaping after the 2021 murder before later being apprehended in Virginia, and there are concerns about him getting help now.
Ryan said anyone who actively participates in assisting him will also be prosecuted.

Notification of the escape has been communicated to all residents within a six-mile radius of the prison, police said.

Acting Warden Howard Holland said the escape is under investigation, declining to answer how or why this occurred.

"Immediately when we found out about this, we followed all the protocols," Holland said. "We did an immediate search of the area. We locked the prison down. We continue to work with our state and local officials to bring this individual back."

Holland, the former chief of police in Downingtown, has been running the prison since July 28, when former Warden Ronald Phillips was placed on leave, according to officials.

Phoenixville Lt. Bryan MacIntyre said Friday morning that everyone is working to apprehend Cavalvante as soon as possible.

He said multiple law enforcement agencies are searching.

"Hopefully, he will be apprehended soon," MacIntyre said. "This is a very safe community, and we hope to keep it that way."

Canine units, drones and helicopters have been deployed in the manhunt, which also includes U.S. Marshals.

Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Cavalcante is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2 or online at usmarshals.gov/tips or contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS or online here.