Danelo Cavalcante: Escaped Pa. killer spotted twice Friday, as search enters Day 10

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police say there were two more confirmed sightings of escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante in Chester County Friday as the manhunt continues into its second week. 

Both Friday sightings were within the search area that local, state, and federal authorities have been combing through since the convicted murderer escaped last Thursday. The search parameters shifted Thursday evening to Conservatory Road and State Route 52 and Street Road to Longwood Road.

Officials revealed Friday afternoon that a tower guard at Chester County Prison had been fired after Cavalcante slipped away on his watch during a brazen daytime escape – part of which was captured on video. 

Danelo Souza Cavalcante, 34, escaped while awaiting transfer to state prison on Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police that he’s wanted over a killing in his home country of Brazil.

Authorities have described Cavalcante as extremely dangerous. With the search in its second week, nervous residents remain alert for any sign of him. Police believe Cavalcante has been spotted nearly a dozen times since his escape and had managed to get a hold of clothing and supplies. 

Prior to Friday’s confirmed sightings, the most recent had been on Thursday night.

The Chester County Prison county guard was fired Thursday after 18 years as a corrections officer, county spokesperson Michelle Bjork said. He was on duty in the watchtower when Cavalcante scaled a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbed over razor wire, ran across a roof and jumped to the ground.

Cavalcante's escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount. The guard, who was put on administrative leave after the escape, also had his personal cellphone on him at the time, a violation of jail protocol, Bjork said.

The spokesperson said she did not know the specific reason for the firing and could not give any more details about what the guard was doing when Cavalcante escaped.

County officials have said the watchtower guard should have seen Cavalcante trying to escape, but apparently did not, and they have not explained why he didn’t see or stop Cavalcante, including whether he was on his cellphone and distracted.

Cavalcante has eluded hundreds of law enforcement personnel, including tracking dogs, tactical teams in full combat gear, and police on horseback and in helicopters southwest of Philadelphia.

On Friday, the ranks of searchers swelled to its largest number yet at around 400 personnel, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens told reporters at a command post.

Longwood Gardens was closed indefinitely after reports that Cavalcante may have once again been spotted on the property. People who remained there overnight Thursday were told to shelter in place as officers searched part of the garden.

The botanical garden, sprawling across nearly 200 acres (80 hectares), is normally open to the public with paths winding through gardens, an outdoor theater, ponds, fountains and meadows, with structures including indoor gardens, tree houses and a restaurant.

There was a possible sighting of Cavalcante on Thursday night that was being investigated, state police said, but further details were not disclosed. It came hours after another person reported seeing Cavalcante in another area of the vast botanical garden. On Monday night, a surveillance camera on a trail had captured him walking through its grounds.

There’s now a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.

The escape and search have attracted international attention and became big news in Brazil. The main newspaper in Rio de Janeiro ran a lengthy story Wednesday with the headline "Dangerous hide-and-seek."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.