‘Surrender Peacefully’ Escaped Murderer’s Mother Pleads To PA Fugitive

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante’s mother is calling for her son to surrender peacefully, state Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said Monday.

And residents living near the Chester County Prison may hear her pleas. Although they might not understand it.

It's been four days of law enforcement officers searching for the escaped killer, who authorities believe is still hiding in the area.

Bivens noted Monday that residents may hear the tape being played on speakers in areas where they think the 34-year-old fugitive is hiding. He said the tape was done in Portuguese, the suspect's native language.

Bivens said police are doing everything possible to assure the safety of the residents in the area.

“Keep in mind, he is stressed right now,” Bivens said. “We continue to stress him. He doesn’t have any food. He doesn’t want to be caught. We consider him to be a very dangerous individual. He has the option to surrender. That's what we hope he will do.”

State police head investigation

Bivens said there have been four sightings of Cavalcante in Pocopson Township, an area near the prison.

The search area is in the vicinity of Routes 926 and 52 and Parkersville Road.

“We have secured that area and continue to search there,” he said. “There is every reason to believe he is in this area.”

Bivens said if he is not actively surrendering, deadly force can be used.

The escape

Cavalcante escaped at 8:50 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, from the Chester County Prison on Wawaset Road in Pocopson Township.

Cavalcante was last seen 50 minutes later walking on Wawaset Road.

Since then, hundreds of law enforcement officers have been deployed in the manhunt, using helicopters, K-9 units, and drones.

A home surveillance camera caught a glimpse of Cavalcante shortly before 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning in the 1800 block of Lenape Road, approximately 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.

The murder

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. Witnesses testified the victim was stabbed 38 times.

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 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.

He has relatives in the Phoenixville

Authorities said he evaded arrest after the 2021 murder of his ex-girlfriend but was later caught in Virginia.

Acting Prison Warden Howard Holland declined to say how Cavalcante escaped because an investigation of the escape is ongoing.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call 9-1-1 or a tipline at 717-562-2987.