Danelo Cavalcante

ALCATRAZ

DANELO CAVALCANTE

EL CHAPO

FRANK ABAGNALE

GLEN STEWART GODWIN

JOHN DILLINGER

RICHARD MATT & DAVID SWEAT

TED BUNDY

THE TEXAS SEVEN

DANELO CAVALCANTE ESCAPE FROM CHESTER COUNTY PRISON

AIDEN J. HURST

MIAMI

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First printing

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CONTENTS

Introduction ............................................................. 7 Chapter 1: The Murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis ............................................................... 13 Chapter 2: A Deadly Relationship ............................. 21 Chapter 3: The Murder of Deborah Brandão .............. 31 Chapter 4: Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction .......... 37 Chapter 5: Cavalcante’s Escape ............................... 45 Chapter 6: The Aftermath ........................................ 57 Further Reading/Educational Videos ........................ 60 Bibliography/Citations ............................................ 61 Index ..................................................................... 62 Author’s Biography/Photo Credits ............................ 64 KEY ICONS TO LOOK OUT FOR: Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more!

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Danelo Cavalcante

Introduction

P risons are some of the most harrowing places. With their towering concrete walls and cold, unclean cells, these unforgiving places house some of the deadliest criminals in the world. Prisons have long since been dramatized in the media and worldwide culture, playing major roles in the stories of many noteworthy criminals. While many may believe that these concrete fortresses are impenetrable or unescapable, history has proved that this is not always true. Prison breaks have fascinated the minds of the general population for decades. From American cultural icons like Bonnie and Clyde to cunning serial killers such as Ted Bundy, many notorious prison escapees have cemented their legacy in history. These jailbreaks serve as an exciting and fascinating look into the scheming minds of some of the world’s best-known and most-feared criminals. Several of these infamous escapes have even made their way into popular culture as films, books, and television series have been created about the criminal masterminds who have escaped jail

Danelo Cavalcante.

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Introduction

and evaded capture. Prison-breakout stories have since become sensational and notorious criminal acts, but there is a long and fascinating history behind them. Prison breaks date back hundreds of years, with some of the first recorded jailbreaks occurring in the 12th century, stretching up to the modern day. For instance, one of the most Ted Bundy confessed to thirty murders between 1974 and 1978. He escaped from custody twice.

notable jailbreaks in history was that of prolific serial killer Ted Bundy. Bundy had committed a brutal series of murders across the United States before he was apprehended, where he eventually made his escape by jumping through the second-floor window of a courthouse. Although authorities captured him once more, Bundy made yet another escape through a small grate in the ceiling of his cell, crawling through the air ducts out into the guards’ living quarters. From there, Bundy was able to escape to freedom and evade capture for several months. Partly due to the notoriety of his escape from prison, Ted Bundy has been the topic of several forms of media, such as books, studies, and films. In a broader context, many other infamous escapees have also received the same treatment, becoming the topic of various

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Danelo Cavalcante

media portrayals. Con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. is the subject of Steven Spielberg’s award-winning film Catch Me If You Can , which details his various criminal activities and escape from custody. The world has become infatuated with daring escapes like Abagnale’s and Bundy’s, seeking to witness these dazzling attempts represented within popular culture. While many may think these audacious jailbreaks are confined to the past or Hollywood cinema, that is not always the case. Recent statistics show that in the 2010s, around 2,000 inmates managed to escape from federal and state prisons each year in the United States. Many of these breakouts occur at

smaller, minimum-security prisons where the inmate is

quickly apprehended once more. However, there have been several modern-day examples of truly infamous jailbreaks. One of the most notable jailbreaks in recent times was that of convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante. Cavalcante is a 34-year-old Brazilian national who, in late 2017, was accused of killing 20-year-old Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis in Tocantins, Brazil. With a warrant out for his arrest, Cavalcante quickly fled the country, eventually making his Frank Abagnale Jr. was a criminal, confidence trickster, and escapee. He has since turned his life around.

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Introduction

Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison by climbing up a wall and over razor wire.

way to Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 2019. From there, Cavalcante resided in the area, beginning a relationship with fellow Brazil native Deborah Brandão. However, things took a turn for the worse when Brandão ended the relationship and filed for a protection order against Cavalcante under accusations of abuse. On April 13, 2021, Cavalcante then brutally stabbed Brandão in front of her two children and fled the scene shortly afterward. Brandão would eventually succumb to her injuries. Cavalcante attempted to evade the authorities with the help of friends but was unsuccessful and captured within a day. He was then charged and convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Following the conviction and sentencing, law enforcement sent Cavalcante to Chester County Prison, where he would await transfer to a state prison facility. On August 31, 2023, at

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Cavalcante’s brutal crime and cunning escape have since become one of the most sensational criminal stories of the 21st century. It has spawned a myriad of headlines and graced the channels of popular media networks. However, it is essential to delve into the series of events that led to this bold prison escape. Chapter one begins with Cavalcante’s cold killing of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis, exploring the details and motives behind the crime as well as his first true escape from the hands of justice. around 9:00, Cavalcante escaped from the prison by climbing up between two close walls in the exercise yard. From there, a statewide manhunt ensued as police desperately attempted to locate and capture the killer. Cavalcante cunningly evaded police for almost two weeks, covertly making his way across Pennsylvania before finally being apprehended by authorities on September 13, 2023.

Cavalcante shot Júnior Moreira dos Reis and stabbed Deborah Brandão. He was a brutal murderer.

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Introduction

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Danelo Cavalcante

Chapter One

V alter Júnior Moreira dos Reis was a good kid. A 20-year-old student, locals described him as hard-working and playful, a good influence on the community in his hometown of Figueirópolis, Brazil. He had a job in the building materials store in the town, where he was well-liked and respected. In an interview for Brazilian news network g1 , his sister, Daiane Moreira dos Reis, reportedly stated, “Todo mundo achava ele uma pessoa boa, amorosa. Ele era uma pessoa que gostava de fazer favor para as pessoas e não cobrava nada em troca.” (“Everyone thought he was a good, loving person. He was a person who liked to do favors for people and didn’t demand anything in return.”) So, when Moreira was shot six times in his chest, skull, and arm, his family and the community at large were shocked. Nobody had expected that this kind and innocent human being could have been the victim of such a heinous crime. Even further, nobody had expected that the man who allegedly committed this crime would remain untouched by the Brazilian justice system, facing no punishment for the slaughter of this young man. The Murder of Valter Junior Moreira dos Reis

Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis was brutally shot six times by his friend Cavalcante, in a seemingly motiveless act of violence.

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The Murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

View an interview in which members of the local community in Figueirópolis reflect on Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis and his death.

A Rainy Night in Brazil It was a dark, stormy night on November 5, 2017, in Figueirópolis, a small town of around 5,000 people situated in the central region of Tocantins, Brazil. A gloomy rain had started to patter the streets of the mostly empty town square, save for a party that was going on in the city. Moreira was seated at a quiet local snack bar, enjoying a nice evening drinking with his friends. Witnesses saw him speaking with his sister, who later told news outlets that he was finishing his drink and was on his way to visit his mother’s house near the bar. Unfortunately, Moreira would never reach his destination. An acquaintance of Moreira’s, Danelo Cavalcante, arrived at the snack bar shortly after that, conversing with Valdo Alves Feitosa, the owner of the bar. The owner witnessed Cavalcante beginning to talk

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with Moreira, although the topic of discussion was unclear. The events that followed this conversation are not entirely known. What is known, however, is that just minutes after this exchange, Moreira would be dead. Witnesses testified that they had heard several gunshots and observed Cavalcante running off and getting into a vehicle, quickly speeding off from the scene. All that remained was Moreira’s lifeless body, lying still in a pool of his own blood. Crowds gathered around, appalled at the sudden murder on what seemed to be a rather dull Saturday night. The six gunshots rang through the city like a raging thunderstorm, sending ripples throughout the community in their wake. To this day, Moreira’s family still suffers from his absence. The abruptness and brutality of the killing sent shockwaves throughout

Cavalcante left his victim in a pool of blood, fled the scene, and disappeared, eventually turning up in the United States. To this day, he hasn’t been convicted of the murder.

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The Murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis

CAVALCANTE’S EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY

the entire family, affecting them for years to come. In a forensic report issued by Brazil’s Legal Medical Institute, examiners even testified to the brutality of Moreira’s killing. The report found six entry wounds and four exit wounds from the bullets that Cavalcante allegedly fired. It asserted that Moreira had already died before the last shots were fired, determining that he passed away at the scene of the crime. Moreira’s mother had no chance to see her son one last time. In fact, Moreira’s sister reflected on the killing and discussed the impact it had upon her family, stating: “Minha mãe ficou acabada. Depois que o filho dela morreu, nunca foi a mesma. Chora demais, ficou diferente. Acabou com a nossa American countryside, falling victim to extreme poverty. From an early age, Danelo had to work to support his family, shining shoes at age five and laboring at a countryside farm by the time he turned seven. He never attended school. The family was disadvantaged, with Danelo spending many nights hungry while his mother wondered what she would feed her kids in the morning. The family’s neighbors described them as hard-working and humble, doing their best to provide for themselves. Danelo, his brother, and his mother would eventually move to Tocantins, Brazil, in 2014, where Danelo managed to secure a job at Mula Preta, a local ranch. The family settled in the area, purchasing a plot of land in a rural community, where they raised cattle and horses. Danelo Cavalcante was born on July 3, 1989, in the municipality of Estreito, located in Maranhão, Brazil. His mother, Iracema Cavalcante, struggled to provide for him and his siblings, Aroaldo Cavalcante and Eleni Cavalcante. The family faced hardship in the rural South

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Danelo Cavalcante

família. Meu pai também nunca mais foi o mesmo. Ficou muito assim . . . aéreo. Ainda dói, né.” (“My mother was finished. After her son died, she was never the same. She cried a lot, she became different. It destroyed our family. My father was never the same either. He became very . . . airy. It still hurts.”) (Lauris and Rehbein 2023) With all the heartbreak that ensued in the tragedy, one thing was for certain: Justice needed to be served. Brazilian law enforcement launched an investigation into Moreira’s murder, interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence related to the crime. Police suspected that Danelo Cavalcante was the perpetrator after several eyewitness reports corroborated his presence at the crime scene. Locals in the community described Moreira and Cavalcante as friends despite their opposing nature. While many described Moreira as upbeat and sociable, others described Cavalcante as quieter, with one neighbor saying that “he kept to himself, didn’t talk

much. He didn’t look you in the eye.” (Ionova 2023) Reportedly, many locals in the tight-knit community were even afraid of Cavalcante, claiming that he had a reputation for keeping guns at his family’s ranch on the outskirts of Figueirópolis. Law enforcement probed deeper into the motive of the murder, deducing that it had occurred over a supposed vehicle-repair debt that Moreira owed to Cavalcante. Moreira had damaged a car that Cavalcante had lent him and had never paid for the repairs. The friendship

It was thought that Cavalcante kept guns at his father’s ranch. This caused unease in the community.

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The Murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis

between the two had men ended, and Cavalcante had apparently begun sending death threats to Moreira, all culminating in Cavalcante’s alleged murder of the young man. Now that police had established a motive and discovered sufficient evidence, state prosecutors formally charged Cavalcante with intentional homicide on November 13, 2017, more than a week after the killing. The district attorney approved and issued a warrant to authorities in Tocantins for Cavalcante’s arrest. However, a major issue had suddenly emerged: Cavalcante was nowhere to be found. Beyond the Brazilian Borders Brazilian law enforcement subsequently began a search for Cavalcante, attempting to locate and capture him, but he was elusive. He had almost completely vanished, leaving behind no trace of his being. According to local witnesses, after Cavalcante had fled the crime scene, he hid out on a ranch on the outskirts of town, aiming to avoid any police who showed up at the site of the murder. The outskirts of Figueirópolis is predominantly rural, filled with ranches, lush greenery, and cattle, making it easy for Cavalcante to slink away unnoticed. Cavalcante became a fugitive, outsmarting and evading Brazilian law enforcement while gradually navigating Brazil’s untamed countryside. Wading through dense forests and trudging slowly over the harsh Brazilian outback, Cavalcante left the state of Tocantins, making his way toward the Brasília International Airport over a period of several months. Outside of Tocantins was the best place Cavalcante could have been. The warrant for his arrest was only registered in Tocantins and had not yet been entered into Brazil’s National Warrant Database. Thus, information regarding the crime was only available to authorities in Tocantins, not the whole country of Brazil. So, in January 2018, when Cavalcante boarded a plane headed for Puerto Rico at the Brasília International Airport, security did not stop or

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Danelo Cavalcante

apprehend him. Instead, he was able to use a fake name and fly safely from his home country of Brazil to Puerto Rico. While in Puerto Rico, Cavalcante obtained a fake ID. He remained in the country for several months before traveling to the United States under this phony documentation. US Marshals concluded that he had come into the US illegally, arriving in New York on a boat sailing from Puerto Rico. From New York, Cavalcante traveled south, eventually settling in Schuylkill Township, located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His sister, Eleni Cavalcante, and some friends lived around the area, making it the perfect place for Cavalcante to begin his new life far away from the Brazilian justice system. He picked up jobs in various trades in Chester County, notably working for a construction company. He rented a storage trailer that he parked at a lot in Chester County’s East Pikeland Township. There, Cavalcante would meet his next victim: thirty-three-year-old Deborah Brandão. JUSTICE FOR MOREIRA As of 2024, Cavalcante has faced no punishment for the murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis. For almost seven years, Moreira’s family has seen no answers for the atrocity committed against the young man. The family have been open about their dissatisfaction with the case’s handling, with his mother and sister lamenting the slow process of Brazil’s judiciary. However, there have been some recent breakthroughs in his case. Cavalcante’s 2023 prison break has prompted Brazilian prosecutors to revisit Moreira’s murder, with Brazilian authorities claiming that they have begun negotiations with the US Embassy to move forward with criminal charges against Cavalcante.

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The Murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis

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Chapter Two

A Deadly Relationship

D eborah Evangelista Brandão was born in 1990 in Brazil. News outlets stated that she was born and grew up in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, in the country’s Northeast Region. While not much is known about her early life and childhood, Brandão and her two sisters, Silvia Brandão and Sarah Brandão, reportedly grew up together in that area of Brazil. The three sisters were especially close with each other, maintaining a tight-knit relationship throughout the years. They were nearly inseparable, with Sarah Brandão even going as far as to describe herself and Deborah as best friends who spent their days together. Eventually, Sarah Brandão would move to the United States, settling in Chester County, Pennsylvania. While in Brazil, Brandão gave birth to two children, a son and a daughter, who are ages six and nine, respectively, as of 2024. Despite the family’s circumstances, Brandão worked hard to give her children a good life in Brazil. However, Brandão would eventually decide to take her family and move away from Brazil, leaving behind her sister,

Deborah Brandão and her sisters grew up in the state of Maranhão in Brazil, where the city of São Luís is situated.

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A Deadly Relationship

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

Watch an immigration law expert explain the United States’ complex immigration process.

Silvia, in São Luís, the capital of Maranhão. Brandão moved to the United States as she believed that her children would have a higher quality of life there than in Brazil. So, in 2017, the family finally moved away from Brazil to the peaceful community of Chester County, Pennsylvania, where her sister, Sarah, had already settled. Sarah helped Deborah get situated in the new country and assisted her in finding employment. The two lived near each other and worked together at Sarah’s housecleaning company, trying to provide for themselves and their children. The sisters had a very intimate relationship with one another. In an interview with news network CNN, Sarah Brandão opened up about the pair’s close relationship, stating that “we [Deborah and Sarah] worked together all day. We talked on the cell phone all day when we weren’t

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together.” According to her, the only time the two sisters were not together was when they were going to sleep. Deborah Brandão was also a dedicated mother, always trying to do what was best for her children. By immigrating to the U.S., Brandão wanted to give her children more opportunities and a chance to grow and succeed. She cherished her son and daughter, caring and providing for them lovingly, helping them adjust to their new life in Chester County. The family had a good life in the tranquil Pennsylvania suburbs, becoming acquainted with their new residence and firmly rooting themselves in the tight-knit Chester County community. Brandão nurtured her children with the help of her sister

and her friends, allowing them to lead a better life. However, Brandão reportedly felt alone, leaving much of her past life behind in Brazil. Eventually, in the humble Chester County, Pennsylvania, this loving, caring mother would meet someone who cured her ails: her future lover and eventual killer, 34-year old Danelo Cavalcante. Deborah Brandão and Danelo Cavalcante met sometime around 2019 when they were introduced to each other by mutual friends. The two were neighbors and lived near each other in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Eventually, the Chester County in Pennsylvania is a tranquil and friendly community.

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A Deadly Relationship

two struck up a relationship. As Brandão’s sister explained, “She [Deborah] said he was nice to her, he was nice to her children, that he helped her. He kept her company. She didn’t feel alone anymore.” (Freitas 2023) The two got along well at first, undoubtedly bonding over their shared experience of leaving Brazil and immigrating to the United States to seek out a new life, despite their different reasons. Brandão and Cavalcante dated for around 18 months. The two lovers would move in with each other after some time, with Brandão and her children coming to live in Cavalcante’s rented trailer in East Pikeland Township, Chester County. Cavalcante and Brandão’s children reportedly got along fine. Sources close to the couple opened up about Cavalcante’s relationship with the children, claiming that although he treated them well, Cavalcante did not exhibit any attachment to them during the time the couple were together. There were no hugs, no love, no care. Cavalcante was cold and quiet, a recurring motif with the deadly killer. welcomes over one million legal immigrants each year, many of whom are just like Deborah Brandão and her children. People immigrate to the United States for an array of different reasons. For instance, some may be fleeing dangerous environments in their home country, while others may seek new opportunities for themselves or their families. However, immigration can be an arduous process. There are several guidelines for those who are hoping to apply for a permanent resident card, commonly called a “green card.” A green card can be granted based on family ties, employment, or diversity prerequisites. IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES According to a report published by Pew Research Center, the US

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The Breaking Point Although Cavalcante and Brandão’s relationship started well, Cavalcante’s behavior became increasingly erratic and aggressive, culminating in violent episodes of physical abuse against Brandão. Throughout the relationship, Cavalcante would drink frequently, and when he did, he supposedly became a different person entirely. This version of Cavalcante was different from the one that Brandão fell in love with. This Cavalcante was vicious, cruel, and uncaring, with no remorse for his actions, resembling the man who had brutally murdered Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis back in 2017. He became increasingly jealous and suspicious of Brandão, searching through her phone and claiming that he would “do the worst” if she ever were to cheat on him. Prosecutors for Brandão’s eventual murder case would When Brandão immigrated to Chester County to be with her sister, little did she know that her Brazilian boyfriend was on the run for murder.

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A Deadly Relationship

There is no doubt that Brandão was a victim of domestic violence. As their relationship continued, Cavalcante became increasingly violent toward her.

even testify to this account, with Chester County District Attorney Deborah Ryan describing Cavalcante as “an angry and jealous boyfriend who needed to be in control.” (Bushard 2023) What started as a healthy and comforting relationship became a nightmare for Brandão and her family. On one occasion in June 2020, Cavalcante and Brandão got into an intense argument. According to Daniela Hernandez, a close friend of Brandão’s, Cavalcante bit Brandão on the lip, causing her to bleed profusely all over their shared domicile. She attempted to run to their neighbors for help, but Cavalcante stopped her. In another incident that occurred in December 2020, Cavalcante again attacked her. Brandishing a sharpened knife, he chased her around while threatening to kill her, a fearful foreshadowing of the brutal crime he would commit just four months later. Cavalcante chased Brandão and her children out of the home, forcing the family to hide in a neighbor’s apartment until the police arrived. Police issued a warrant for simple

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assault to Cavalcante, who in turn promised to surrender himself to them. However, Cavalcante would not adhere to this promise. These violent outbursts would lead Brandão to end the relationship soon afterward, but that did not stop Cavalcante. The relationship between the two had ended. Cavalcante’s abuse had shattered the common ground on which they had built their relationship, and Brandão attempted to move on with her life. Brandão and her family moved back into their previous apartment in Schuylkill Township at the 300 block of Pawling Road, desperately hoping to get away from Cavalcante, who steadily became more and more violent and obsessive. Meanwhile, Cavalcante would subsequently move into an apartment in King of Prussia, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Brandão’s case is, unfortunately, one that is familiar to many households across the world. Domestic violence can be a common occurrence, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserting that one in four women and one in seven men will experience physical violence by their partner within their lifetime. Domestic violence happens to over 10 million people in the United States each year. Most people think of domestic violence as only physical abuse. However, that is not always the case. Domestic violence comes in many forms, including physical, emotional, psychological, or even technological abuse. It is important to stay vigilant and to be able to recognize the signs of domestic violence. There are several online websites to help determine these signs, as well as several avenues of assistance for victims of domestic violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be contacted at 800-799-7233.

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A Deadly Relationship

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

Watch an interview of Daniela Hernandez, a close friend of Brandão’s. She speaks more about the relationship between Brandão and Cavalcante.

Pennsylvania, with roommate Franco Rosa. Rosa corroborated past accounts regarding Cavalcante: “He was a really quiet guy and a shy guy. He wouldn’t start a conversation, but if you start a conversation with him, he would talk normal. He would sit down sometimes and have a beer or two. On the weekends, sometimes, we would make barbeque. . . .” (Kadhim 2023) Rosa also depicted Cavalcante as a very private person. Reportedly, Cavalcante did not like to discuss his past life in Brazil and would change the subject or even end the conversation entirely when the topic was brought up. Rosa did not know about Cavalcante’s crimes in Brazil, nor did Brandão. Cavalcante hid this deviant side of himself until the façade he put on burst.

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Eventually, Brandão would file for a temporary protection order from a judge. Despite this, Cavalcante kept in touch with Brandão, texting her throughout early 2021. Some accounts even claimed that Cavalcante began stalking his former lover, following her movements in secrecy, always tracking her. Cavalcante even hacked into Brandão’s Instagram account at one point, the peak of his obsession with his ex-girlfriend. The temporary protection order would expire in March 2021 after Brandão failed to arrive at a court hearing. Brandão was terrified of Cavalcante. Her landlord, Brian Flaxman, noticed that she had put up battery-operated alarm sensors on all of the windows and most doors at her apartment in Schuylkill Township. Brandão had anticipated that Cavalcante might come for her and wanted to protect her family. They made the long trek from Brazil to the US, and Brandão wanted to ensure that her children would have a future. Brandão would eventually discover the warrant for Cavalcante’s arrest regarding the murder of Valter Júnior Moreira dos Reis. She used this information to keep him at bay, threatening to tell police about his active warrant in Brazil if he would not leave her alone. In a video interview with news journalist Chris Cuomo of NewsNation, Daniela Hernandez claimed that Brandão used this information to protect herself, with Cavalcante then threatening, “If you rat on me, I will kill you,” an ominous foreshadowing of what would come. Just a day after this threat, a night of pure terror would ensue for the family. Brandão, a dedicated mother and loving sister, would soon be lying dead in a pool of her own blood in front of her children, stabbed to death by the man she had once called her partner.

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Chapter Three

A pril 2021 began just like any other month in peaceful her ex-boyfriend Cavalcante would do something terrible to her or her family. Sadly, her fears would come true on the night of April 18, 2021. The day before Cavalcante brutally stabbed Brandão to death in front of her two children, he would move out of his shared apartment in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. His former roommate, Franco Rosa, recounted an argument the two had had a few days before the murder, where Rosa had been upset that Cavalcante was suddenly moving out without notifying him in advance. Rosa recalled that at a barbeque party, Cavalcante had had a large knife on him, which he had been using to cut steak. Soon afterward, Cavalcante had left the party to confront Brandão. A witness who had attended the barbecue, Leandro Cardozo Patricio, reportedly had heard Cavalcante say that he had “to go get [his] woman.” (Vella 2023) The Day of the Murder A few short hours before the murder, Brandão would take her family shopping at a local Walmart, located approximately five miles from The Murder of Deborah Brandao Chester County. But things were different for Brandão and her family. Brandão was fearful for her safety, worrying that

Cavalcante stabbed Brandão repeatedly with a knife. On arrival, law enforcement and forensic scientists found a grisly scene.

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EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

Watch a short interview with Cavalcante’s roommate, Franco Rosa, which includes footage of Cavalcante moving out on the day before he murdered Deborah Brandão.

her apartment at the 300 block of Pawling Road in Chester County. It was there at this parking lot where Cavalcante, having already left the barbecue party earlier, would spot Brandão. He would then follow her back to her apartment, rolling up to the front lawn and haphazardly parking his car. Brandão and her two children were both outside, and Cavalcante confronted Brandão as the children played in the yard. Brandão’s landlord, Brian Flaxman, told news outlet The Daily Mail that he had seen them just minutes before the murder occurred: “When I saw them [Brandão and Cavalcante], they were just talking by Deborah’s car. She had the trunk open, and she had a bunch of juices and snacks for the kids. He didn’t appear aggressive at that time.” Flaxman would leave before the murder happened, not witnessing the horrifying events that were about to occur.

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Danelo Cavalcante

The discussion between the two heated up, becoming increasingly intense as Cavalcante told Brandão he was going to do something bad to her and her family’s lives, threatening to kill her. This harrowing promise would come true just minutes later. Cavalcante suddenly grabbed Brandão by the hair and threw her to the ground, violently screaming at her. He then unveiled the knife he had brought and began to stab Brandão in her neck, chest, and back. Brandão pleaded for her life. Gasping but somehow still alive, Brandão begged her daughter to get help. Her daughter would run to a neighbor’s apartment, screaming, “Help me! Help me! Help me! He’s going to kill my mommy!” (Rellahan 2023b) Renee Thomas, a neighbor and friend of the family, would immediately dial 911, but it was already too late for Brandão. Cavalcante had finished his vicious attack on the woman, having stabbed her around thirty-eight times. Neighbors witnessed Cavalcante speeding off in his black car, escaping from the crime scene just as quickly as he had arrived. Emergency medical responders rushed to the scene, but Brandão was sadly pronounced dead at Paoli Hospital in Chester County.

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The Murder of Deborah Brandão

DEBORAH BRANDÃO’S FAMILY TODAY

Police were dispatched to the scene of the crime at approximately 4:17 p.m., responding to a supposed domestic disturbance. What they found at the scene was far more gruesome. Another neighbor, Michael Kweder, was attempting CPR on Brandão, but to no avail. She was gone. In her final moments, she looked deep into the eyes of her beloved son, who stood frozen in horror, unable to move or avert his eyes away from the scene of his mother’s death. In the end, all that remained was Brandão’s corpse. The responding officer at the scene described it: “She was covered in blood. A lifeless body on the ground. No pulse, no movement, nothing except blood everywhere.” (Rellahan 2023b) together, with Sarah Brandão trying to give Deborah Brandão’s children the life she wanted for them. Deborah’s other sister, Silvia Brandão, has also expressed sadness over her sister’s murder. Speaking to Brazilian news outlet g1 , Silvia stated that her “family is . . . trying to rebuild itself again, restructure itself, but incomplete. She [Deborah] is greatly missed, it is an immense pain.” Silvia is also trying to return Deborah’s ashes to her homeland of Brazil so the family can “bid a dignified farewell to her.” (Salahieh, Todd, and Cooper 2023) Deborah Brandão’s children were only three and seven years old at the time the murder occurred. The grief of watching their mother being killed in front of their eyes heavily affected them. Brandão’s sister, Sarah Brandão, and her husband have taken the children in, raising them alongside their cousin. Reportedly, Sarah Brandão was devastated when she found out about Deborah’s murder, stating that her “world ended.” (Maxouris 2023) The family have worked through their trauma

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Danelo Cavalcante

The Aftermath Paramedics rushed Brandão to Paoli Hospital in Chester County, where medical personnel officially pronounced her dead. Examiners found multiple stab wounds in her heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver. Cavalcante’s barbaric stabbing frenzy had caused Brandão to bleed out and die at the scene of the crime, right in front of her children. This harrowing display will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Brandão was only thirty-three years old at the time of her death. After Cavalcante fled the scene of Brandão’s murder, he called his mother and sister, confessing to the terrible crime he had just committed. From there, Cavalcante called Francisco Lima, a friend who lived with his sister. Lima testified that Cavalcante had asked him to meet at a Wawa convenience store in Frazer, another small town in Chester County. And Lima had done just that. At the Wawa, Cavalcante revealed to Lima that he had stabbed his girlfriend. Lima did not ask why, nor did he ask whether the woman was alive or dead. Instead, Lima got Cavalcante some water to wash his hands off and supplied him with a clean sweatshirt to replace the one soaked with Brandão’s blood. Cavalcante gave him a bag with thousands of dollars in cash, which Lima would then pass on to Cavalcante’s sister. The two would then drive to a storage facility to meet another acquaintance, Michael Scahill. The two friends helped Cavalcante, supplying him with clean clothes and Cavalcante’s fake ID, which he had obtained in Puerto Rico. They got him food from McDonald’s, helped Cavalcante clean his car, and then filled up his gas tank. Scahill was even able to dispose of Cavalcante’s blood-soaked clothes that he had worn during Brandão’s stabbing. The men then said their goodbyes, with Lima and Scahill reportedly telling Cavalcante to “disappear.” Cavalcante drove off as the two men watched, once again trying to put his gruesome past behind him.

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The Murder of Deborah Brandão

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Danelo Cavalcante

Chapter Four

Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction

A warrant was issued for Cavalcante’s arrest, and the search began. Law enforcement officers interviewed multiple witnesses of the crime, each indicating that Cavalcante had been the one who had murdered Brandão and that he had fled shortly afterward. Brandão’s seven-year-old daughter was also interviewed, telling police officers what she had witnessed at the scene of the bloody crime. When officers showed the young girl a photo of Cavalcante, she quickly identified him as the perpetrator, telling authorities, “That’s him, that’s the guy that killed my mom. Please get him and put him in prison.” (Maxouris 2023) Meanwhile, Cavalcante was already making his journey away from Chester County, Pennsylvania, in his car, heading south. He would make it all the way to Prince William County, Virginia, before being apprehended. While driving, he was pulled over for a traffic stop at Exit 156 on Interstate 95 near Dale City, Virginia. Virginia State Trooper M. Vickers had noticed that Cavalcante’s vehicle matched the

Cavalcante fled the scene with the help of some friends who gave him clean clothes and a fake ID. He got as far as Prince William County, Virgina, where he was apprehended by a state trooper.

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Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO

View a news broadcast from April 19, 2021, in which District Attorney Deborah Ryan speaks about Deborah Brandão’s murder.

description of one from a recent warrant issued by Chester County Detectives and Schuylkill Township police. The officer subsequently pulled Cavalcante over, arresting him without any major trouble. From there, the Fairfax County Police Department would hold the murderer as he waited to be extradited to Chester County to stand trial for his crime. Authorities interviewed Cavalcante with help from a Portuguese interpreter, and he confessed to killing Deborah Brandão. He reportedly told officers that there had been no real reason for the murder and that he was sorry for killing the young mother. After several weeks, Cavalcante would finally be extradited to Chester County to face justice for the heinous crime he had

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Danelo Cavalcante

committed. Afterward, he would be charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and aggravated assault for the slaying of Deborah Brandão. Chester County District Attorney Deborah Ryan made a statement regarding the murder, promising justice for the victim and her family, stating that “the pain these children and all of Deborah’s loved ones are enduring as a result of this depravity is horrific. We will ensure that the defendant is brought to justice for this cold-blooded, premeditated, and despicable act.” The Trial District Judge James Kovaleski of Phoenixville arraigned Cavalcante on his charges, subsequently denying his bail and confining him to Pocopson Township’s Chester County Prison for the remainder of the trial. Afterward, Judge Kovaleski would set the preliminary hearing for the case on September 20, 2021. Cavalcante’s trial began in 2022, a year after Brandão’s bloody death. Overseen by Common Pleas Judge Patrick Carmody, the trial continued into 2023. The prosecution, headed by the aforementioned Chester County District Attorney Deborah Ryan, would request to present Cavalcante’s prior homicide charges to the jury. The district attorney argued that these charges issued from Brazil tied into the overarching motive for the case. Judge Carmody would grant this request, thus forming the central theme of the prosecution’s case against Cavalcante. The prosecution made the claim that Cavalcante’s main reason for killing Brandão was so that he could silence her. Brandão had already threatened to tell police about his murder warrant in Brazil. The prosecution alleged that Cavalcante could not let that happen. District Attorney Ryan argued that Cavalcante had planned this murder, needing to make sure that Brandão would not expose him to authorities. The prosecution’s Assistant District Attorney, Zachary Yurick, explained to the jury that “[Cavalcante’s] goal was to kill

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Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction

Cavalcante’s trial took place at Chester County Court, presided over by Judge Patrick Carmody.

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Danelo Cavalcante

Deborah. He wanted her silenced. He got his way.” (Rellahan 2023b) Meanwhile, Cavalcante, represented by Assistant Public Defenders Sameer Barkawi and Nellie Verduci, argued differently. The defense confessed to Cavalcante’s culpability in the crime, with Verduci stating, “This isn’t a whodunit. Danelo did kill Deborah, and he did it with a knife.” (Rellahan 2023b) However, they disagreed with the prosecution’s notion that Cavalcante’s motive was to silence Brandão. Instead, the defense argued that Cavalcante’s murder of Brandão was an act of passion rather than a deliberate attack on her life. The defense attorneys asserted that Cavalcante had only brought the knife with him to coerce Brandão. According to Barkawi, in past

On August 17, 2023, a jury convicted Cavalcante of first-degree murder for Brandão’s killing. In Pennsylvania this carries a mandatory life sentence without parole.

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Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction

WHY WASN’T DANELO CAVALCANTE DEPORTED?

arguments, Brandão would cave to Cavalcante’s demands when he threatened her with a knife, which is what he had been planning to do the day he murdered her. They claimed that Cavalcante had committed the murder in the heat of the moment after the pair had had an intense argument on Brandão’s front lawn. The defense would also discuss the toxicity of Cavalcante and Brandão’s relationship, claiming that it had been volatile, and that the stabbing was just the result of the couple reaching their breaking point. Specifically, Barkawi pointed out that Cavalcante later called his mother and when an illegal immigrant is arrested and charged, ICE lodges an immigration detainer, which is a request that ICE be notified when the criminal has served their sentence so they can begin the deportation process. In Cavalcante’s case, ICE issued an immigration detainer against him once he was arrested. So, only once Cavalcante had served his full sentence would he be deported back to Brazil. Many have wondered why Cavalcante, an undocumented immigrant, was not deported back to Brazil. For starters, authorities with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were not aware of Cavalcante’s presence in the country or his prior charges from Brazil until Brandão’s homicide case. Therefore, the agency had no reason to deport him back to Brazil before the murder had occurred. Furthermore, undocumented immigrants charged with more serious offenses (like Cavalcante) are often required to serve their sentences in the United States. Since foreign countries have no obligation to imprison people based on convictions in the United States, keeping these criminals in the United States ensures that they will serve their full sentences. Typically,

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Danelo Cavalcante

sister to confess to the crime, showing that his attack had not been planned; rather, it had been done in the heat of the moment. “There’s no rhyme or reason to these stabs. That’s the intense passion, said Barkawi. After a long and grueling trial, both sides of the case would wrap up their arguments, leaving the jury to deliberate on Cavalcante’s guilt. In the end, it took only around fifteen minutes for the jury to make a decision, an unprecedented amount of time for a case of this nature. On the evening of August 17, 2023, the jury came to a unanimous decision in the case: Cavalcante was guilty of first-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. In reaction to the swift guilty verdict issued by the jury, District Attorney Ryan had this to say: Ms. Brandão’s children are now left motherless, and she will never have the opportunity to watch her children grow up, finish school, or have families of their own. Her . . . daughter had the courage to testify in this case and helped obtain justice for her mother and their family. We are extremely grateful for Chester County Detectives, Schuylkill Township Police Department, and the jury for this just outcome. (Chester County District Attorney Facebook Page 2023) Cavalcante had no defense or excuse to offer for his brutal killing of Brandão. Instead, all he could offer was a weak apology to Brandão’s family, who had to live on after the senseless tragedy.

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Cavalcante’s Arrest and Conviction

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Danelo Cavalcante

Chapter Five

Cavalcante’s Escape

I t was a very ordinary morning in Chester County, Pennsylvania, on August 31, 2023. Locals were awaking from their slumber, getting in their cars, and driving to work for the day as kids rode the bus to school, and neighbors exchanged friendly greetings while they stepped out of their homes to enjoy the fresh morning air. However, things would be different that day. An event would occur that would send the entire Chester County community into a panic for weeks, triggering a nationwide hysteria. Thursday, August 31—The Initial Escape Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante woke up in his cell at Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township in the early morning of August 31, awaiting his transfer to a state prison where he would serve out the rest of his life sentence. At 8:33 a.m., Cavalcante and the rest of his cell block would enter the exercise yard at the local prison. At approximately 8:51 a.m., Cavalcante used his hands and feet to slowly climb up two close walls in the exercise yard, a technique known as chimneying, which media outlets incorrectly called “crab walking.” From there, he would make his way up to the prison’s roof, maneuvering around the deadly razor wire fence and jumping down Danelo Cavalcante was captured on Wednesday, September 13, 2023, near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, following a 14-day manhunt that had frightened residents, closed schools, and public facilities while he was on the run.

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Cavalcante’s Escape

into another area of the prison. He would then leave on foot, quickly walking away from the prison’s surrounding area. Cavalcante’s escape method had been utilized by another inmate of Chester County Prison, Igor Bolte, in May 2023. In that instance, guards immediately apprehended Bolte once the tower officer noticed the escapee. However, prison authorities would not rectify the clear security flaws in the prison’s design after Bolte’s failed escape attempt, allowing Cavalcante to break out just a few months later. Unlike Bolte’s case, the prison tower officer on duty at the time of Cavalcante’s escape did not notice or report the missing inmate. Cavalcante Officials released photos showing Danelo Cavalcante escaping the Chester County Prison as the search for the convicted murderer continued.

was free to go for about an hour after the initial escape. It took until 9:45 a.m. for prison guards to first notice Cavalcante’s absence after his cell block had returned inside. Guards performed a special head count, and authorities began to look all over the prison for the dangerous criminal. Five minutes later, Chester County Prison would be locked down, with the prison issuing a 911 call and sounding its public escape siren. Authorities would then launch a full-scale search for the escapee. Prior to the start of the search, Cavalcante was reportedly observed

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Danelo Cavalcante