Hundreds Search For Escaped Murderer As Manhunt Continues In Pocopson Township

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Hundreds of law enforcement personnel are continuing the search for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante, with more continuing to join the manhunt in Pocopson Township, according to the district attorney.

Cavalcante, 43, escaped Thursday morning from Chester County Prison and was last seen at 9:40 a.m. on the day of his escape walking south on Wawaset Road away from the facility.

Police were canvassing residential areas in the township and knocking on doors, District Attorney Deborah Ryan said in an update Sunday on the situation, in which she noted there is a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to Cavalcante’s capture. U.S. Marshals, SWAT, local, state and other federal agencies were among those assisting in the search.

Also Sunday, Longwood Gardens was closed until further on the advice of authorities.

Cavalcante is Brazilian and speaks Portuguese and Spanish, as well as some English. He was wearing a white T-shirt with gray shorts and white sneakers at the time of his escape, and he is 5 feet tall, weighs 120 pounds and has black curly hair and brown eyes, authorities said.

Acting Warden Howard Holland has said the escape is under investigation, declining to answer how or why the incident occurred.

Cavalcante was convicted 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.

He was sentenced 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.

Ryan has said Cavalcante has family in Phoenixville. She has said he was assisted by family and friends in escaping after the 2021 murder before later being apprehended in Virginia, and there are concerns about him getting help now. Anyone who actively participates in assisting Cavalcante will also be prosecuted, according to Ryan.

Anyone with information on Cavalcante’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-926-8332 or usmarshals.gov/tips, or contact the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-472-8477 or online at p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=107.