Police warn that escapee Danelo Cavalcante is armed. He has avoided searchers for nearly two weeks

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Authorities issued a warning regarding the escapee, Danelo Souza Cavalcante, who has managed to elude capture in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly two weeks. They emphasized that Cavalcante is armed and advised residents in the area where he was being pursued to take precautions by locking their doors, securing their vehicles, and staying indoors.

Pennsylvania State Police took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to notify the public about their ongoing pursuit of Cavalcante in South Coventry Township. They also urged individuals to call 911 if they spot him and strongly discouraged approaching him.

In response to the imminent threat, at least one nearby school district opted to close all schools and offices for the day, with another in the vicinity deciding to keep students indoors as a safety measure.

Monday witnessed state and federal officials addressing concerns about whether they had missed an opportunity to apprehend Cavalcante. They clarified that the search area was challenging, encompassing dense woods, underground tunnels, and drainage ditches. Additionally, they pointed out that it took over two hours for news to reach them that he had been spotted outside the perimeter for the first time.

Cavalcante’s escape involved slipping out of an 8-square-mile search area over the weekend. He commandeered a dairy delivery van that had been carelessly left unlocked with the keys inside. He eventually abandoned the vehicle more than 20 miles north of the search area after unsuccessful attempts to seek help from two former colleagues late Saturday, according to the police.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police refrained from divulging how Cavalcante managed to evade the perimeter but emphasized that no perimeter is entirely foolproof. Bivens suggested that Cavalcante’s desperation is evident in his efforts to reconnect with people from his distant past, indicating a lack of a robust support network. This desperation, Bivens believes, will ultimately work against him, as he lacks the resources to endure in the long term.

Cavalcante, 34, has remained at large since August 31, when he made a daring escape from Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to another facility. He had been serving a life sentence for the 2021 murder of his ex-girlfriend, allegedly to prevent her from reporting him for a homicide in his home country of Brazil.

To effect his escape, Cavalcante scaled a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, traversed razor wire, ran across a roof, and made a daring jump to the ground. His escape remained unnoticed for over an hour until a headcount revealed his absence, resulting in the dismissal of the tower guard on duty.

In Brazil, prosecutors in Tocantins state have accused Cavalcante of a “double qualified homicide” in the 2017 killing of Válter Júnior Moreira dos Reis in Figueirópolis, allegedly over a debt the victim owed him for repairing a vehicle.

U.S. authorities have classified Cavalcante as extremely dangerous, offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

Craig Caine, a retired inspector with the U.S. Marshal’s Service who has experience with fugitive cases, pointed out that there is always a potential breach in a perimeter. He noted that even a person of Cavalcante’s stature, standing at 5 feet tall, can find ways to hide or climb into trees, further complicating the search efforts.

Although Cavalcante managed to slip through the perimeter, Caine cautioned that this doesn’t necessarily make things easier for him. Law enforcement, he stressed, only needs to be lucky once, while Cavalcante must maintain his luck every day he remains at large.

The duration of this manhunt is not uncommon, according to Caine, as searches for escaped prisoners can span weeks, months, or even years. Bivens declined to comment on whether Cavalcante received assistance from others but confirmed that no such arrests have been made.

It is worth noting that Cavalcante’s sister was apprehended by immigration authorities, reportedly for overstaying her legally allowed period in the United States, with law enforcement finding no reason to grant her further cooperation given her lack of involvement in the investigation.

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Contributions to this report were made by Eléonore Hughes, a reporter from Big Big News in Rio de Janeiro.

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More about Manhunt

• Danelo Cavalcante’s Prison Escape – Detailed information about Danelo Cavalcante’s daring escape from Chester County Prison.
• Pennsylvania State Police Updates – Official updates and press releases from the Pennsylvania State Police regarding the manhunt for Danelo Cavalcante.
• U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force – Insights from experts on fugitive cases, including the search for Cavalcante and the challenges law enforcement faces.
• Danelo Cavalcante’s Criminal History – Information about Cavalcante’s criminal history, including the murder convictions in both the U.S. and Brazil.