Escaped murderer still on the loose, is now armed

Danelo Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who killed his ex-girlfriend in a 2021 stabbing in front of her two young children, is still on the loose following a prison escape about two weeks ago. And he’s been quite busy.

After crab-walking his way out of a Pennsylvania state prison on August 31, Cavalcante has:

• Changed his appearance and slipped through a police perimeter
• Stolen and ditched a van
• Tried to contact a few former coworkers
• Broke into a house and stole a .22 Ruger rifle with a scope; the homeowner fired shots at Cavalcante during the incident (which took place on Monday night)

Cavalcante was last spotted yesterday in South Coventry Township, a city within Chester County, Pennsylvania, ~25 miles away from the prison where he escaped. State police and the US Marshals Service blamed the vast wooded areas in Chester County for the fugitive’s previous success in breaking past the search area, but noted they have an advantage since he’s now believed to be hiding in a more urban area.

Schools located in/around the search area are closed, and residents have been warned to lock their doors and remain inside. Stay tuned.