Authorities in Pennsylvania have come under criticism for their treatment of convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante’s escape, in which he allegedly eluded hundreds of prison guards, stole a vehicle, disguised himself, and traveled hundreds of miles north to contact two old employees.
Cavalcante was spotted late Saturday in East Pikeland Township, more than 20 miles from where officials thought they had him pinned down in the Longwood Gardens, a sprawling horticulture attraction about 5 miles southwest of the prison he escaped from in Pocopson Township, according to Lt. Col. George Bivens, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police, at a news conference on Sunday afternoon.
There is no such thing as a totally safe barrier. I refuse to provide any explanations. Bivens expressed his remorse about the event. It’s just a little setback. We’ll track him down. It’s only a matter of when.
Bivens reported that Cavalcante, 34, took a white work van from Baily’s Dairy on Saturday night, about a third of a mile from the Longwood Gardens boundary. He said that Cavalcante had no trouble taking the vehicle since it was unlocked and the keys were left inside.
Around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, Bivens discovered an unoccupied 2020 Ford van with no gas in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township.
The quest for the fugitive might become a countrywide one, and “we are obviously very concerned that Cavalcante has or will attempt to steal another vehicle to facilitate his escape,” said Bivens.
Detectives have moved their investigations to the East Nantmeal Township area of northern Chester County, he added, since they believe Cavalcante is still in Pennsylvania.
Authorities provided still photographs of a shaven Cavalcante wearing a green hooded sweatshirt and a dark baseball hat captured from a video doorbell camera.
