Escaped murderer still at large slips out of search area, steals van, tries to contact ex-co-workers

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. – Authorities say an escaped murderer who has eluded seize since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania jail per week and a part in the past slipped out of the search house, modified his look, stole a dairy supply van, leaving behind it miles away and remained at large.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police mentioned Sunday that Danelo Souza Cavalcante stole the unlocked van which had the keys within someday Saturday night time about three-quarters of a mile from the northern perimeter of the search house the place masses of legislation enforcement officials have been looking for him.

Baily’s Dairy mentioned on its Facebook web page that the supply van used to be stolen between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday “while we were still here working.”

The robbery wasn’t spotted for hours, and within the intervening time Cavalcante, 34, traveled greater than 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast to East Pikeland Township and Phoenixville. Shortly sooner than 10 p.m. Saturday he went to an East Pikeland Township house of an individual he had labored with a number of years in the past and requested to meet with him, police mentioned.

The house owner, who used to be at dinner along with his circle of relatives and did not reply, known as police after returning house and reviewing his doorbell video. Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, police mentioned, Cavalcante went to the Phoenixville house house of some other former paintings affiliate, who wasn’t house, police mentioned.

Doorbell video pictures confirmed Cavalcante to be now clean-shaven and dressed in a yellow or inexperienced hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, inexperienced jail pants and white sneakers, police mentioned. The stolen van used to be discovered at 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a box at the back of a barn in East Nantmeal Township, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) west of Phoenixville.

Bivens mentioned he believed Cavalcante deserted the automobile at least partly as it used to be low on gas. While legislation enforcement used to be looking out the rapid house for any indicators of him government have been involved that he would strive to download some other automobile or had already accomplished so.

“I do not have a report of a stolen vehicle; I anticipate that we will,” he mentioned.

Bivens expressed self assurance, how that the fugitive would sooner or later be recaptured, vowing to “aggressively continue” the search with the help of federal, state, county and native sources.

“This is a minor setback,” he mentioned. “We’ll get him, it’s a matter of time”

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

Police on Saturday had reported two more confirmed sightings of Cavalcante within the search area around the Longwood Gardens botanical park, the center of the search in recent days. Bivens said Friday that about 400 personnel were taking part in the search, including tactical teams, tracking dogs, and officers on horseback as well as aircraft.

Despite the massive searches, Bivens said the area had some underground tunnels and “very large drainage ditches” that were impossible to secure completely. Police had been planning to use close to 600 personnel Monday for “one massive sweep” of the search area, he said.

Authorities have described Cavalcante as extremely dangerous. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his capture.

Authorities on Friday announced the firing of the prison tower guard on duty 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. His escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

Cavalcante’s break out and the search has attracted global consideration and changed into large news in Brazil, the place prosecutors in Tocantins state say he’s accused of “double qualified homicide” within the 2017 slaying of Válter Júnior Moreira dos Reis in Figueirópolis, which they allege used to be over a debt the sufferer owed him in reference to restore of a automobile.