Escaped Murderer Broke Into PA House, Homeowner Alleges: Report

CHESTER COUNTY, PA - Four credible sightings of at-large convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante around Pocopson Township have been documented by authorities as of Monday evening, including a report of Cavalcante inside an area home, according to a 6abc report.

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Ryan Drummond told 6abc he believes he saw Cavalcante, 34, inside his home shortly before midnight on Saturday. He told the outlet he rushed to his upstairs landing after hearing rustling noises coming from downstairs.

"What I decided to do was flip the switch three or four or five times, paused, and then he flipped a light switch from downstairs. This was the moment of, 'Oh my God this guy is down there,'" Dummond said.

Drummond told the outlet he watched Cavalcante walk out of his home; peaches, apples and green snap peas were later found missing from the residence, he said.

"I saw him walk out of the kitchen through our living room, open up that door (and) walked out. He was wearing a white shirt, had a bag," Drummond said.

Cavalcante escaped the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township at around 8:50 a.m. Thursday morning, Patch previously reported. He was last seen around 50 minutes later walking on Wawaset Road.

Credible sightings documented by authorities took place within the search area near the intersection of Rt. 926 and Rt. 52, north on Rt. 52 to Parkersville Road, southeast to Rt. 926 and west to the intersection of Rt. 926 and Rt. 52, 6abc reported.

Another sighting of Cavalcante was reported around 6 p.m. Monday, but the Brazilian national was not found when police arrived at the scene, the outlet added.

Pennsylvania State Police noted at a Monday press conference that a state trooper spotted Cavalcante Sunday afternoon, but eventually lost sight of the fugitive.

A home surveillance camera caught a glimpse of Cavalcante shortly before 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning in the 1800 block of Lenape Road, around 1.5 miles from the prison, officials said.

He was wearing gray shorts, a white T-shirt, and white sneakers. His appearance has remained unchanged since his escape Thursday morning, officials said Saturday.

Cavalcante is 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. He has long, black curly hair and is wearing a backpack. Authorities on Saturday said they did not know where he obtained the backpack. He has relatives in the Phoenixville area, officials said.

Cavalcante was convicted on Aug. 16 of first-degree murder in the April 18, 2021 stabbing of his former girlfriend Deborah Brandao in front of her children, ages 4 and 7, outside her home in the 300 block of Pawlings Road, Schuylkill Township. Witnesses testified the victim was stabbed 38 times.

He was sentenced on Aug. 22 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 when he escaped.

This isn’t the first time Cavalcante escaped from authorities.

He migrated to the United States after a warrant was issued for his arrest for murder in Brazil in 2017, according to witnesses who testified in his trial.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call 9-1-1 or the investigation tip line at 717-562-2987.

-With reporting by Holly Herman.