(NewsNation) — Investigators are starting to uncover clues regarding the whereabouts of a convicted murderer who escaped the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania.
Officials report four confirmed sightings of Danelo Cavalcante. He was most recently spotted on surveillance cameras at Longwood Gardens twice Monday night, authorities said Tuesday.
The perimeter for the search has now shifted south after officials said Cavalcante likely slipped through the original perimeter. The search for the 34-year-old convicted murderer was previously narrowed down to a 2-mile radius, with the belief that he may be hiding in a wooded area near the prison where he escaped last Thursday.
As the search area shifted, two schools announced they would shut down on Tuesday.
The Kennett Consolidated School District announced it will be closed due to the search. The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is closing schools and offices on Tuesday and holding a flexible instruction day.
“We understand that situations like these can be unsettling,” the Kennett Consolidated School District said in the announcement. “The safety and security of our KCSD community remains our top priority. We are committed to taking all necessary precautions and measures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.”
NewsNation learned Sunday that Cavalcante is the second person to escape from Chester County Prison this year, raising concerns about its security.
While investigators plan to address this issue, their immediate focus is to apprehend Cavalcante and return him to prison.
Police are utilizing a loudspeaker to broadcast a voice familiar to Cavalcante, aiming to draw him out.
“We’ve had the individual’s mother make a recording asking him to surrender peacefully,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens. “It’s done in Spanish or Portuguese.”
In July, Bivens led the search for accused kidnapper and murder suspect Michael Burnham, who had escaped from Warren County Prison in northwestern Pennsylvania using bedsheets. Burham was apprehended nine days after his escape.
Now, Bivens is confident that they’re getting closer to locating Cavalcante.
“We will continue to push him hard. I intend to stress him. I want to push him hard. He will make mistakes,” Bivens said.
Cavalcante was convicted of murder on Aug. 16 after a jury reached a guilty verdict in just 15 minutes.
He stabbed his ex-girlfriend 38 times in front of her children. Investigators believe he committed his crime after the woman discovered he was wanted for murder in his native Brazil.
A home surveillance camera captured video of Cavalcante walking early Saturday morning.
Police are urging residents living near the search area to keep all doors and windows locked, as they believe Cavalcante is growing more desperate and could become increasingly dangerous.
“We’re doing everything. We’re bringing in all the experts in this area,” Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan. “We have the top men and women working around the clock to bring this man to justice and we won’t stop until he’s captured.”
The have been at least two home burglaries in the search area and police suspect Cavalcante is responsible.
At one point, a state trooper reported spotting Cavalcante from a distance but lost him during a pursuit. Meanwhile, officials continue to withhold details on how Cavlcante escaped, emphasizing the priority right now is the search for him.
A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to information about Cavalcante’s location, authorities announced Tuesday.
