CNN –
A Pennsylvania assassin who ran away from jail almost two weeks ago has been seen by authorities again, with suspicion that he may be carrying a weapon.
An alert sent to Chester County 911 on Monday night indicated that Danelo Cavalcante had been seen in South Coventry Township, approximately 20 miles north of the prison where he was caught.
The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating Danelo Cavalcante, an escapee from South Coventry Township who may be carrying a weapon, according to the alert. “Residents in the area are advised to lock all external doors and windows, secure vehicles, and stay indoors.” According to another police report, both men were shot at close range by two men.
CNN was informed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper James P. McKee that there had been a sighting on Monday night, but he did not provide any additional information.
Cavalcante was spotted over 20 miles away in East Nantmeal Township after slipping through a police search perimeter, taking possession of parked vehicles, and changing his appearance before abandoning the vehicle. This is the first sighting of him since the weekend.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens announced at a news conference on Monday afternoon that the reward for information leading to Cavalcante’s arrest has been raised to $25,000.
The search was significantly influenced by the recent developments, which had previously focused on the area surrounding the Chester County Prison where Cavalcante was being held after escaping from a fatal first-degree murder conviction last month.
On Saturday evening, Cavalcante took a 2020 Ford Transit van that was three-quarters of. miles from the search perimeter and drove approximately 25 miles north to the East Pikeland Township home of an acquaintance he had known several years ago, Bivens said in his Sunday news conference.
Bivens reported that he talked with the acquaintance on a Ring doorbell camera, which captured his new appearance without any hair loss, but the person was not present when contacted by him to meet Cavalcante.
Bivens stated that Cavalcante attempted to reach out to a friend in the Phoenixville area, but they were not at home. The female resident who called the police was the first to report the escapee.
Bivens stated on Monday that anyone attempting to assist the fugitive should avoid it and instead help law enforcement in their search for him.
Bivens stated on Monday that the individual is in need of resources and requires additional help.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has taken into custody the sister of Cavalcante, who was reported by Bivens to have overstayed her visa.
Bivens stated that she was not willing to assist and has been detained in a deportation proceeding due to her overstay status.
He stated that law enforcement’s presence was of no use to her as she had not cooperated.
Chester County officials have stated that Eleni Cavalcante provided testimony in the trial for her brother’s murder.
Following his life-flearance sentence for the murder of Deborah Brando, Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison by crawling between two walls, climbing a fence, and crossing razor wire. He left the community stunned and closed schools as he repeatedly evaded arrest.
Before fleeing, Danelo Cavalcante was spotted with his beard still visible. Chester County District Attorney/PA State Police released a new picture on Sunday of the fugitive showing himself wearing stray hair and hoodies.
CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller stated that Cavalcante’s time on the run has likely gone beyond what investigators had predicted. He also noted that most escaped prisoners are captured within two miles of each other within a day.
Despite having fled for almost two weeks, Cavalcante’s movements on Saturday caused the search to shift from one area in East Nantmeal Township to the northern part of Chester County, where the stolen van was found abandoned in an abandoned field behind a barn, seemingly due to running out of gas.
Miller noted that the stakes are different for him, but he is determined to play with determination as it could lead him to a dangerous place.
The vehicle’s escort system was a game-changer.
Rick Silvia, the proprietor of Journey’s End Farm, reported that police were present in East Nantmeal Township on Sunday during an equestrian event.
“They started to turn vehicles around and block the perimeter of our property,” Silvia told CNN. “The last time we heard anything about them waiting for more manpower and conducting a shoulder-to-shoulder search in the cornfield,” she said.
According to him, the police presence was reduced on Monday.
Dennis Keen, the pastor of Nantmeal United Methodist Church, informed CNN that the church had closed its doors during services on Sunday as a precautionary measure. He added that his followers were concerned about the incident.
On Monday, Bivens reiterated his call for community members to be informed about the latest photos of Cavalcante, examine surveillance footage, and secure their homes and vehicles. The van used by the fugitive, which was owned by a local dairy farm, had been stolen without knowledge of it, according to authorities.The keys were left inside.
He added: ‘We continue to worry that Cavalcante will try to steal another car in order for him to get away. Anyone with information on what happened should contact us immediately so we can act quickly from there.
According to Bivens, Cavalcante has altered his appearance by shaving his face and wearing a green hooded sweater.
The method by which Cavalcante overcame the search perimeter established by authorities around Longwood Gardens, where several sightings of the getaway man had been reported in the days following his escape, is unclear.
Bivens emphasized on Sunday that “No perimeter is completely safe,” a statement he made on Monday.
According to US Marshals Service Supervising Deputy Robert Clark, the environment surrounding Chester County Prison was considered advantageous by Cavalcante, who found it to be a “difficult terrain.”
Clark stated that they will be ready to go into the long game, which is their top priority. The US Marshals Service also conducts fugitive investigations daily, so they are targeting individuals with significant resources.
Miller, the CNN analyst, emphasized that a police perimeter is not always composed of strong cop lines in stifling daylight. Cavalcante’s ability to resist death was dependent on his patience as he attempted to sneak through.
According to Miller, stealing the truck was crucial for him as it allowed him to move away from his car and avoid gas stations. He hasn’t run out of gas since then.
Miller stated that the second crucial step would be to locate a partner who can assist him, whether it be by offering him clematis, mobile phone, or supplementary vehicle assistance.
Miller stated that the authorities will concentrate on who is present in their universe instead of focusing on the box they escaped from.
Timeline of known Cavalcante sightings.
According to a US Marshals Service official, Cavalcante is wanted in connection with homicide cases in Brazil and his involvement in Brando’s death, where he stabbed her 38 times in front of her young children.
Bivens stated on Sunday that the suspect had been present in residences, businesses, and vehicles, but none of those locations could be ruled out.
Pennsylvania State Police have reported multiple credible sightings of the escaped prisoner. Here are some information on places where police say Cavalcante has been recently.
Howard Holland, the acting warden, reported that Cavalcante was caught on jail surveillance video fleeing from Chester County Prison on August 31. The video showed him walking between two walls in an exercise yard, placing his hands on one wall and feet on another, and shimmying up out of view before running across a roof and climbing further over razor wire.
According to Ryan Drummond, a resident of the township where the prison is situated, Cavalcante entered his home in Pocopson Township and took some food before leaving, as reported by CNN affiliate WPVI on September 1.
According to authorities, Cavalcante was captured on surveillance video on September 2 about 1.5 miles from the prison.
According to authorities, the fugitive was captured on security footage at Longwood Gardens, which is approximately 3 miles away from the prison, on September 4.
According to Bivens, a resident of the area reported seeing Cavalcante in limbo on their property’s creek bed on Tuesday.
Bivens reported that a trail camera image showed Cavalcante in or around Longwood Gardens on Wednesday, but it was later found out on Thursday evening.
Longwood Gardens was part of the search area, where two sightings of Cavalcante were reported by authorities on Friday.
According to Bivens, Cavalcante stole the van on Saturday and went to the house of his first acquaintance, where he was captured on doorbell video. He then went back to another former work associate in the Phoenixville area at 10:07 p.m. around 12:30 a.M. Sunday after hearing about the sightings.
The van that was stolen was discovered on Sunday at 10:40 a.m. in an area behind elveen barn in East Nantmeal Township.