Danelo Cavalcante: Manhunt expanded for escaped killer after multiple confirmed sightings

POCOPSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The search for a "desperate" and "dangerous" convicted murderer has been moved and expanded as he remains on the run after a fifth confirmed sighting since the prison escape in Chester County last week.

Officials say 34-year-old Danelo Cavalcante was spotted on trail camera footage walking around Longwood Gardens Monday night.

Police say they conducted an hours long search of the area, but were unsuccessful in locating or capturing the fugitive as the search extends several days with even more resources being called in to help bring the manhunt to an end.

"What I can tell you is I think that what's occurred is that that pressure that we've been putting on him is working," said Major Lt. Cl. George Bivins, Deputy Commissioner of  Operations of the Pennsylvania State Police. "We squeezed him hard enough over a period of a few days, and he was not able to get any relief and managed to find a place to get out.

The escaped killer was seen entering the property around 8:21 p.m. and exited south around 9:33 p.m., according to authorities, who believe he is still in Pennsylvania as of Tuesday morning.

While officials say his appearance has not changed, video from the sighting shows the fugitive with a backpack, slingback duffle bag and hooded sweatshirt obtained since the last sighting.

Police swarmed two different locations in Pocopson Township and nearby Birmingham Township on Tuesday night following a pair of reported sightings. Authorities did not confirm if the reported sightings of Cavalcante were legitimate, but the massive police presence suggested that the alerts were being taken seriously.

Prison officials gave a detailed timeline of the convicted killer's escape in a press conference Wednesday afternoon, stating a tower officer did not see nor report Cavalcante's escape, climbing a wall in the exercise yard, followed by pushing through razer wire, running across the roof and through more razer wire and exiting the prison.

Pennsylvania State Police took the lead role in the search Monday, confirming there had been four confirmed sightings of Cavalcante prior to Monday night.

A trooper spotted the fugitive Sunday afternoon, but was also unable to capture the fugitive after a brief chase due to terrain in the area.

That area is a 2-mile radius of wooded area in Chester County, where police say they have been focusing their search, and are asking residents to avoid until further notice. Now, police say they are expanding the perimeter of their search, shifting slightly south after the latest sighting at Longwood Gardens.

"The intersection of Route 926 and 52 North on 52 to Parkersville Road Southeast to 926, and west to the intersection of 926 and 52 in Pocopson Township," state police said Monday.

The search prompted two local school districts, Kennett Consolidated School District and Unionville-Chadds Ford School District, to close their schools and offices Tuesday and Wednesday "out of an abundance of caution." 

"Greenwood Elementary School and several of our communities are currently located within the police search perimeter. It is out of an abundance of caution that we take this action," Kennett Consolidated School District wrote in a letter to families Tuesday night. "We understand that situations like these can be unsettling. The safety and security of our KCSD community remains our top priority."

On Thursday, several schools outside the newer search perimeter re-opened. Longwood Gardens also announced they would be opening back up to the public, because the search "is no longer active" on their property.

On Saturday, Cavalcante was spotted on Ring camera video on the 1800 block of Lenape Road, wearing prison pants, a light-colored t-shirt and white sneakers. 

While his appearance has not changed much, according to police, they say the escaped killer is becoming desperate as he searches for resources and shelter.

"I intend to stress him. I want to push him hard. He'll make mistakes. He'll show himself. He's already shown himself," Bivins said Monday.

Residents in the area may have also heard a loudspeaker announcement over the weekend. Police say they have been playing a recording by the fugitive's mother in Portuguese urging him to surrender peacefully.

However, officials say if Cavalcante does not actively surrender, deadly force has been authorized.

"Maybe he has a change of thought and hears his mother telling him to surrender, and his family cares about him. He's desperate. He's hungry. He's been in the woods, he's dirty. Perhaps this is what puts him over the edge where we can get a peaceful surrender," Bivins said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Chester County neighbors vigilant in wake of Danelo Cavalcante manhunt
• Manhunt continues for convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante after Chester County prison escape
• Danelo Cavalcante: Search continues after escaped Pa. prisoner spotted on home surveillance camera

With the dangerous killer still on the loose, neighbors are just praying he’s caught so they can get their lives back.

"We want it to be over," neighbor Jean said. "It’s been a really scary couple of days here in the community."

Lance Leman added, "I can’t believe we haven’t caught him yet, with all the resources we have, all the K-9s we have. Everything we have."

"It’s kind of scary. You’ve got kids in the house and you worry about this guy being out there every single day since Thursday," Leman said.

Sources tell FOX 29 that he, apparently, broke into two houses on Waterglen Drive and stole food, but no one was home. He then possibly took off again into the woods and the search continued.

"So many helicopters, so many cops, K-9s, SWAT, everything and I don’t understand he’s been able to elude the police this long. It’s crazy and to be in this same area," Leman remarked.

A group of women came from San Francisco for their friend’s birthday, only to find Longwood Gardens closed and so much chaos all around them.

Officials continue to ask residents to be vigilant, checking surveillance video and being aware of any activity in the area. They are also asking families returning from Labor Day vacation to be cautious, and contact them if anything seems suspicious.