Police are continuing their manhunt for an escaped killer near Philadelphia which has led to closures of local schools and a botanical garden and warnings to the public to lock their doors and be on their guard.
Danelo Cavalcante, 34, escaped from the Chester county prison on Thursday and has been spotted five times since, but hasn’t been caught yet. The search for Cavalcante has now entered its seventh day.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the Pennsylvania state police Lt Col George Bivens said: “You’re dealing with someone who is desperate and doesn’t want to be caught.”
Cavalcante was most recently sighted on Monday night at Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden. Surveillance video captured him walking through the area with a duffel bag, backpack and hooded sweatshirt he apparently stole while on the run. He is described as having light skin, shaggy black hair and brown eyes. He is 5ft tall and weighs approximately 120lb.
Hundreds of law enforcement officials from local, state and federal agencies are involved in the search for Cavalcante. US Customs and Border Patrol have also sent resources to assist with the search.
Officials have expanded the perimeter of their search. Cavalcante had likely slipped through the original perimeter set by hundreds of local, state and federal law enforcement officers, but they said his movements showed he was feeling the pressure of the massive search and that his options were dwindling.
Two school districts – Kennett Consolidated and Unionville-Chadds Ford – remain closed out of caution as authorities continue the search for the killer.
Kennett Consolidated school district issued a statement to families and staff: “We are continuing to meet and work with the Pennsylvania state police, Chester county emergency services, and the district attorney’s office to get updates and determine the best and safest way to open schools outside the search perimeter that will allow access for all of our students as soon as possible.”
Residents in surrounding areas were warned to keep their doors and cars locked.
Cavalcante was convicted of first-degree murder in August. He is meant to be serving a life sentence without parole for for killing Deborah Brandão, his former girlfriend.
Aimee Young-Wilson, a local hair salon owner, told CNN business is slow because of the search.
She said: “Everyone is just worried because he’s here, he’s dangerous and there’s a lot of elderly folks that live around the area. But we can’t shut down. We can’t stop living our life.”
