Police: Danelo Cavalcante Has Changed His Appearance, Spotted Near Phoenixville

According to state police, escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante was spotted overnight Sunday, about 13 miles from where he was last seen in Chester County.

PHOENIXVILLE — Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante, on the run for more than a week in Chester County, has been spotted with what police called “a changed appearance.”

Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement on Sunday that Cavalcante was seen overnight near Phoenixville in northern Chester County.

Images released by state police show that Cavalcante is now clean-shaven and wearing a yellow or green hooded sweatshirt, black baseball cap, green prison pants, and white shoes, the statement said.

Cavalcante was operating a 2020 white Ford Transit van with the Pennsylvania license plate ZST-8818, police said in a Facebook post. The van has a refrigeration unit on the top.

Cavalcante, 34, escaped from the Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to state prison on Aug. 31 after being sentenced to life for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police that he’s wanted in a killing in his home country of Brazil.

Phoenixville is about 13 miles northeast of the prison.

Authorities have described Cavalcante as extremely dangerous. Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 or the state police tip line at 717-562-2987.

Officials on Friday announced the firing of the prison tower guard on duty when Cavalcante scaled a wall by crab-walking up from the recreation yard, climbed over razor wire, ran across a roof, and jumped to the ground. His escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a headcount.

Check back for updates on this developing story.

Keystone senior community editor Patrick Berkery contributed to this report.