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