Royersford Man Guilty Of First-Degree Murder In Schuylkill Township

WEST CHESTER, PA — A 34-year-old Royersford man was convicted in the Chester County Justice Center Wednesday of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in front of her children.

Danelo Cavalcante was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder in the April 2021 death of Deborah Brandao, 33, following a trial before Judge Patrick Carmody.

First-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said Cavalcante repeatedly stabbed Brandao outside her Schuylkill Township home while her two young children were playing.

Police were dispatched on April 18, 2021 to the 300 block of Pawlings Road for a domestic disturbance.

When they arrived, they found Brandao on the ground with multiple stab wounds.

During the struggle, the victim asked her daughter to get help. The child ran to a neighbor’s house. The neighbor called 911, according to authorities.

Brandao was taken to Paoli Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Cavalcante, the victim’s ex-boyfriend, was arrested in Virginia by a state trooper who received notice that Cavalcante was a fugitive.

During the trial, Ryan presented evidence that Brandao had discovered Cavalcante was wanted for murder in his native Brazil. The day before, the victim had threatened to bring that information to the police after Cavalcante hacked into her Instagram account to spy on her, Ryan said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Cavalcante’s lawyer, Sameer Barkawi of West Chester, said the slaying came during an argument when Cavalcante snapped out, according to the Inquirer report.