Pocoson, PA TWP. — Pennsylvania authorities said the hunt for fugitive Danilo Cavalcante expanded after he was found outside an area searched by police after he escaped Thursday.
Swarms of police officers have been searching the town of Pokopson and the heavily wooded area of Chester County — less than 2 miles from the jail.
Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a news conference Tuesday that the inmate was spotted on Monday night by security cameras in Longwood Gardens and that police have now expanded the area. South of the previously established cordon.
Cavalkant, 34, escaped from the Chester County Jail, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, on Thursday night, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said.
On Aug. 16, he was found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2021 killing of his ex-girlfriend, 33-year-old Deborah Brando. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Two school districts in the area announced they would be closed Tuesday after authorities said the manhunt expanded.
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The Kennett Consolidated School District, about 9 miles from the jail, and the Unionville-Chadsford School District, about 5 miles from the jail, both announced they would be closed Tuesday.
“Law enforcement informed us early this morning that the search situation has changed and out of an abundance of caution, schools and offices will be closed today,” said Kennett Unified School District superintendent.
The Unionville-Chadsford School District announced: “The district has received information that the circumstances of the fugitive have changed. Schools and offices are closed today and the district will operate on a flexible school day.”
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Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark (Robert Clark) for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said at a news conference on Monday afternoon that the police dragnets had previously been concentrated in a densely wooded area within a 2-mile radius of the jail. Clark said the escaped inmate was seen four times within a 1.5 to 2 mile radius of the prison.
Cavalcante is also wanted in connection with a 2017 homicide in Brazil that caused him to flee the country, Clark said. Authorities previously said they were investigating whether Cavalcante had insiders who helped with his escape.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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