Officials are set to provide a critical update on Monday afternoon regarding their ongoing efforts to recapture Danelo Souza Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who managed to escape from a Pennsylvania prison on August 31st. Recent sightings indicate that he has undergone a significant “changed appearance,” raising concerns among law enforcement agencies.
The press conference, jointly conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET. For real-time coverage of this crucial event, you can tune in to the live video stream at the top of this page or visit USA TODAY’s YouTube channel.
Authorities revealed on Sunday that Cavalcante had stolen a 2020 Ford Transit van the previous night from outside the established search perimeter. Subsequently, he traveled to the residence of an acquaintance he had known several years ago. In an intriguing development, Cavalcante unsuccessfully attempted to communicate with the individual through his doorbell security system. This interaction allowed the authorities to capture images of the fugitive’s newly clean-shaven face, marking a significant change in his appearance.
Last week, the reward for information leading to Cavalcante’s capture was doubled from $10,000 to $20,000, reflecting the urgency of his apprehension. Additionally, he is wanted for a 2017 murder in his native Brazil, further heightening the gravity of the situation.
Initially, Cavalcante was spotted sporting a beard, dressed in a white T-shirt, gray shorts, and white sneakers. However, he has since altered his appearance, notably shaving his face and changing his attire to a dark-billed baseball cap and a green hooded sweatshirt, as shown in photographs released by authorities.
Cavalcante’s sightings have been reported on multiple occasions since his escape, with the most recent incident occurring outside the police search perimeter, where he visited the home of an acquaintance from his past. The stolen 2020 Ford Transit van, used in his escape, was later found abandoned and out of gas in a field behind a barn in West Nantmeal Township, a rural area in northern Chester County.
Law enforcement officials shared images on September 5th of a sighting of Cavalcante captured by a trail camera at Longwood Gardens. This sighting was later confirmed to be Cavalcante, placing him in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles west of Philadelphia and 11 miles south of West Chester, the location from which he initially escaped.
The ongoing efforts to recapture Cavalcante continue to be a top priority for law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania, with his changed appearance adding a new dimension to the manhunt.
