Escaped Murderer Cavalcante Still On The Run

WEST CHESTER, PA —Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante has evaded a massive manhunt that used helicopters, dogs, drones, and hundreds of law enforcement officers, and disrupted daily life in southern Chester County.

Cavalcante, 34, of Royersford, is still on the run Sunday after his acrobatic escape on Aug. 31 from the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township.

Cavalcante is 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. He has long, black curly hair and was wearing a backpack.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry’s office is investigating Cavalcante’s escape from prison.

He attempted to contact two former coworkers in the Phoenixville area Saturday night. He was seen wearing a black baseball-style hat, a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, green pants and white shoes.

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.

During his trial, witnesses testified that Cavalcante stabbed the victim 38 times after learning that she was planning on telling Brazilian authorities where Cavalcante was living. Cavalcante was wanted by police in Brazil for a 2017 killing.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said the fugitive was assisted by his family and friends in escaping after the 2021 murder before later being apprehended in Virginia.

He was sentenced on Aug. 22 in the Chester County Court to life in prison after a jury deliberated for 15 minutes. On Thursday, Aug. 31, he was awaiting transfer to state prison to serve out his sentence.

The hunt for Cavalcante

State, federal and local law enforcement authorities were notified and the manhunt began.

"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 said on Friday, Sept 1. "Be vigilant. Check your property. It's Labor Day weekend. Make sure your property and your neighbor's property are secure."

After Labor Day, Cavalcante was still on the run.

Police then came up with a novel plan.

Cavalcante’s mother made a tape in Portuguese asking for her son’s “peaceful surrender,” state police said. The tape was played over speakers in cars and helicopters in areas where Cavalcante may have been hiding.

On Monday night, Sept. 4, police discovered that Cavalcante had slipped through a perimeter they had set up to contain him when Longwood Gardens staffers alerted police that the escapee had been spotted at night on remote trail cameras.

The locals remained on edge as the perimeter expanded to Longwood Gardens and deep into southern Chester County, which has a mixture of rural and suburban communities.

During his run, Cavalcante allegedly broke into several houses to obtain food and supplies. No residents were reported hurt.

On the early morning of Sept. police were focused laser-focused Longwood.

Neighbors on high alert

Wendy Hughes, who lives in a development near Longwood Gardens in Kennett Township, said the residents are unnerved about Cavalcante hiding out near their neighborhood.

“The concerning part is he has been breaking into houses,” Hughes said. “He got into someone’s house and was flipping lights on and off. I don’t want him coming into my house."

The reward for Cavalcante’s capture increased from $10,000 to $20,000. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact state police at 717-562-2987.