Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante, who made a daring escape from a Chester County prison, had allegedly been meticulously planning his escape for several months.
About eight hours after Cavalcante's audacious crab-walked exit, a prison official quickly informed the acting warden, shedding light on the intricate plot that had been unfolding behind bars, as per CNN.
Danelo Cavalcante's Prison Escape Shocks Law Enforcement
This audacious escape, which would send shockwaves through law enforcement, involved climbing up a prison wall in a maneuver resembling a crab walk. However, what's more shocking is that this wasn't a complete surprise to prison officials.
There had been prior warnings about his escape plans, which were tragically unheeded. Shortly after Cavalcante's escape, Sgt. Jerry Beavers sent an email to Cpt. Harry Griswold, noting the warning they had received about the inmate's escape plans. Beavers expressed concern that the information shouldn't come back to haunt them, as it was noted back in July that Cavalcante was plotting an escape.
Griswold, in turn, forwarded this information to acting warden Howard Holland, asking how to proceed with the information. Shockingly, this wasn't the first time there were concerns about Cavalcante's escape. Chester County spokesperson Becky Brain revealed that he was initially identified as an escape risk when he was captured in Virginia and committed to Chester County Prison in 2021.
During his trial, unsubstantiated information from an unknown source only reinforced his escape risk status. Despite these warnings, Cavalcante was allowed to spend time in the prison yard, mingling with other inmates during recreational time without direct supervision.
This was a significant lapse in security that eventually led to his escape. The consequences of this escape were dire. Hundreds of law enforcement officials conducted an extensive and frantic search for Cavalcante, fearing for the safety of the community, according to USA Today.
Escaped Killer's Dramatic Capture Eases Southeastern Pennsylvania's Fears
After several days of searching, he was finally discovered hiding in thick underbrush by a US Customs and Border Protection tactical team. It was their search dog, Yoda, who apprehended him by biting his scalp and then latching onto his leg.
Cavalcante, still armed with a stolen rifle, tried to flee but was captured. He later revealed that he had survived in the wilderness by drinking creek water and stealing a watermelon from a nearby farm.
He had used the challenging terrain to his advantage, staying hidden for days at a time and only moving at night. His capture brought relief to the residents of southeastern Pennsylvania who had been living in fear during his time on the run.
They were told to stay indoors as Cavalcante broke into suburban homes for food and managed to elude law enforcement. Cavalcante's original crime, for which he was sentenced to life in prison, was the brutal murder of 33-year-old Deborah Brandão in 2021.
He stabbed her 38 times in front of her young children, who had come to the US from Brazil for a better life. Prosecutors alleged that he killed her to prevent her from reporting him to the police for a separate murder he had committed in Brazil.
Before fleeing to the US, Cavalcante was already accused of murdering a friend in Brazil over a money dispute. It remains unclear how he managed to enter the US and sustain himself after fleeing Brazil following the murder of his friend, Walter Junior.
The escape of Fabian Cavalcante highlights not only the seriousness of the security lapses in the prison system but also the tragic consequences that can result when such warnings go unheeded.
It serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced vigilance and procedures to prevent such escapes from happening in the future, Mail Online reported.
