Authorities in Pennsylvania on Sunday published security camera images that showed the guy had slipped past a search perimeter and altered his appearance as a fierce US manhunt for an escaped murderer reached its eleventh day.
After Danelo Cavalcante broke out from the Chester County Prison in the northeastern US state, a massive manhunt ensued, including hundreds of law enforcement agents, helicopters, drones, and search dogs. Afraid neighbors closed their doors at this time.
However, images made public on Sunday revealed the 34-year-old Brazilian citizen had lost the thick mustache and beard that were seen in his initial “wanted” poster.
The Pennsylvania State Police released a statement stating, “He is now clean-shaven and was wearing a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball style hat, green prison pants, and white shoes.”
Four images of Cavalcante were released by authorities, all seemingly shot by a door-mounted camera as he stood or sat on a porch.
The accused killer, according to police, was allegedly observed overnight close to the village of Phoenixville, which is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of the jail and approximately 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of the big city of Philadelphia.
Cavalcante murdered his lover Deborah Brandao there in Phoenixville in April 2021. He had been close by.
Authorities had earlier claimed that Brandao had 24-hour security guarding his family nearby.
Police said on Sunday that the fugitive was using a 2020 White Ford Transit van that had allegedly been stolen from a West Chester dairy. However, according to Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens, he reportedly abandoned it due to a shortage of gasoline.
The only vehicles on the road, according to a reporter for the Philadelphia NBC station who was driving through the area early on Sunday, were those of police officers. Early morning darkness saw police patrolling the area with long rifles.
The prisoner has been seen multiple times before, some of which had him being shirtless.
The fugitive was last spotted at a botanical park in Kennett Square, a suburb of Philadelphia, where state, local, and federal law enforcement searched this week. They used sniffer dogs, aircraft, and drones, yet he still let them get away.
In an attempt to explain why he wasn’t captured, Bivens said that “no perimeter is ever completely secure.”
“Unfortunately, there are several situations. There are several problems with the property. Things that couldn’t be guarded, such as tunnels and particularly enormous drainage canals, he said.
The flying search, according to Bivens, was impeded by inclement weather.
In the end, Bivens added, “I am convinced we will catch him.
According to him, when Cavalcante sought to get in touch with two pals in the Phoenixville area, they reported him to the police. According to Bivens, the fugitive’s sister, who was living in the country illegally, has been detained.
Prison authorities released a video on Wednesday that showed Cavalcante’s escape from custody after being given a life sentence for killing his fiancée.
The inmate can be seen crab-walking up two parallel walls, climbing to the roof, and then hopping over two razor-wire fences while wearing jeans and a white T-shirt at the time.