53°
Both the Kennett Consolidated School District and Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will remain closed Wednesday, Sept. 6, more than a day after the 34-year-old convicted murderer was captured on a trail camera nearby.
Citing a criminal complaint, 6abc says Cavalcante may have escaped the same way as Igor Bolte, another inmate in the county prison, did back in May. Bolte is believed to have scaled the wall near the exercise yard before climbing an exposed beam up to the roof, the outlet said.
He then climbed down and ran past guards outside the main fence. Unlike Cavalcante, Bolte was captured in minutes.
Cavalcante was spotted five times since his escape last Thursday, Aug. 31.
Most recently, he was seen wandering through a wooded area in southern Chester County late on Monday, Sept. 4.
A trail camera at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square captured him there, too, Pennsylvania State Police announced at a joint press conference Tuesday morning.
The timestamped footage shows Cavalcante heading north on the trail around 8:20 p.m. before apparently turning around and passing the camera from the south around 9:30 p.m., PSP Lt. Col. George Bivens said.
As a result of the sighting, Unionville-Chadds Ford and Kennett Consolidated school districts have all canceled classes for Tuesday, Sept. 5, Bivens said.
Residents up to three miles from the trail where Cavalcante was seen received a "reverse 911" notification around 5 a.m., authorities added.
The grainy trail footage shows the fugitive now has a backpack, a duffel bag, a hoodie, and "unknown other supplies," Bivens said. While investigators have said there is no evidence Cavalcante is being helped, residents are urged to keep vehicles and outbuildings secure.
The killer was spotted south of the original search perimeter centered around an area of Pocopson Township, Bivens said.
That perimeter has since been adjusted, and more federal agencies including the FBI and US Customs and Border Protection have been "mobilized" to aid in the search, according to authorities.
All previous sightings happened in the area of Route 926 and Route 52; north on Route 52 to Parkersville Road; southeast to 926; and west to the intersection of Route 926 and Route 52, Bivens said.
A PSP trooper reportedly spotted the fugitive on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 4, Bivens said. The trooper gave chase to a worn and tired-looking Cavalcante, but it was futile.
He was also caught on a residential surveillance camera on Saturday, Sept. 2 around 12:30 a.m. in the 1800 block of Lenape Road, approximately 1.5 miles from the prison, DA Deborah Ryan said.
Bivens also said he intends on stressing an already-stressed Cavalcante, and he's confident he will catch him.
Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Cavalcante is asked to call 9-1-1 immediately. There is a $10,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to his capture.
Cavalcante, of Royersford, was convicted earlier this month of fatally stabbing his 33-year-old ex, Deborah Brandao, at her home in Schuylkill Township in April 2021.
The fugitive is from Brazil, with light skin, 5 feet, 120 lbs., with shaggy black hair and brown eyes.
Cavalcante, who was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole just two weeks before he fled captivity, Daily Voice reported.
Cavalcante is considered "extremely dangerous" and residents are urged not to approach. If spotted, call 911.
Authorities are offering a combined $10,000 reward for information that leads to the killer's capture. To submit a tip, contact the US Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 or visit usmarshals.gov/tips.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Reading and receive free news updates.
