Murderer Cavalcante's Chesco Escape Hearing Friday Is Delayed

KENNETT SQUARE, PA — Convicted killer Danilo Cavalcante's preliminary hearing Friday for his Aug. 31 prison escape that led to a 13-day manhunt by hundreds of law enforcement officers was delayed.

Kennett Square District Judge Matthew Seavey granted a request to reschedule the hearing because Cavalcante was charged Monday with additional burglary and weapon offenses during the manhunt.

Cavalcante's lawyer, First Assistant Chester County Public Defender Susanna DeWese, did not object to the request by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Phillips. A new date has not been scheduled.

Cavalcante was in the state Correctional Institution Phoenix in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, on a Zoom call for the short proceeding to delay the hearing.

Calvalcante avoided hundreds of law enforcement officers by hiding in wooded areas throughout Chester County, including Longwood Gardens, a tourist attraction in Kennett Square.

He was captured in South Coventry Township in northern Chester County, about 20 miles from the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township.

Following the escape, Chester County officials began upgrading security at the Pocopson Township prison.

At a meeting in October, the board approved security upgrades at the Pocopson Township jail, including purchasing more cameras and hiring correctional officers to monitor the cameras.

An officer who was monitoring the prison tower when Cavalcante escaped was fired.
In addition, the board has hired a contractor to prepare a preliminary design plan for building upgrades.

Cavalcante was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on Aug. 16 for the April 2021 fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao, 33, in Schuylkill Township. Cavalcante was also wanted in Brazil for a 2017 killing.