Manhunt for escaped prisoner reaches sixth day

Brazilian national Danelo Cavalcante escaped last Thursday from a state prison near Philadelphia. He received a life sentence last month for the 2021 murder of his girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, in front of her children. Cavalcante is also wanted in Brazil in connection with a 2017 murder. He remained at large as of 8 a.m. Wednesday. 

What are authorities doing to catch Cavalcante? The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are assisting local and state police in the search. The heavily wooded area around the prison has complicated the hunt. Authorities are using search dogs, helicopters, thermal imaging, and other technology. They are also broadcasting a message from Cavalcante’s mother, telling him to turn himself in. Several locals have reported sightings of him, including one on Monday night. Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of Cavalcante.

Dig deeper: Read Emily Belz’s article in WORLD Magazine about witnesses testifying in murder cases.