Pennsylvania police sent message from escaped killer’s mother urging him to surrender – WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

(CNN) — Pennsylvania Police Department sends a message from the mother of escaped killer Danelo Cavalcante urging him to surrender while authorities narrow down a 2-mile area where they believe he is hiding.

Cavalcante, 34, broke out of the Chester County Jail, about 30 miles west of Philadelphia, around 8:50 a.m. Thursday, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said. Prosecutor Deb Ryan described Cavalcante as “an extremely dangerous man”.

The Brazilian national was convicted of first-degree murder on August 16 for killing his former girlfriend, 33-year-old Deborah Brandão, in 2021. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole last week and is also wanted in Brazil on suspicion of another murder.

As the manhunt enters its fifth day, police have targeted a wooded area within a 2-mile radius near the jail, Robert Clark, deputy US marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, said at a news conference Monday afternoon .

And they employ a unique tactic to lure the convicted killer: Helicopters and patrol cars send a message in Portuguese from Cavalcante’s mother, urging him to surrender, Clark said.

“As desperate as he is, maybe he’ll change his mind and hear his mother tell him to surrender and his family will take care of him,” Clark said.

“Maybe that’s what gets him over the brink of a peaceful surrender,” he said.

Clark didn’t reveal the exact content of the message, but said, “It just gives him encouragement that his family loves him and that they want him to surrender.” And that’s our hope too.”

According to authorities, there have been four credible sightings of Cavalcante in a small area since his escape. The last sighting was by a police officer on Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said during the news conference.

Police have also investigated two break-ins in the area. Although officials cannot confirm that the burglaries were committed by Cavalcante, “they are of interest to us,” Bivens said Monday.

Bivens added that police are working to “stress” Cavalcante. They don’t know if and how the refugee can get food and water in the dense forests, he said.

“I intend to charge him. I want to push him hard. He’s going to make mistakes,” he said. “He will show himself. We think he’s shown himself a few times already.”

Officers have the authority to use deadly force if they find Cavalcante and he does not actively surrender, Bivens said.

Authorities urged residents to call the police if they see anything suspicious and to avoid contact with Cavalcante if they see him. They also urged residents to report homes that were vacant during the Labor Day holiday so police can investigate if Cavalcante is using any of those properties for hiding.

Another prisoner escaped from the Chester County Jail earlier this year, Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said during Monday’s news conference.

“The prison is very aware of its vulnerabilities and has made efforts to address those vulnerabilities,” the district attorney said.

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