Chester County acting Prison Warden Howard Holland said an investigation revealed that convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante escaped by crab-walking up two walls and out of the exercise yard.
During a Wednesday afternoon press conference at the Chester County Government Center, officials played a prison surveillance video of the escape. Holland said the tower guard on duty is now on administrative leave.
Cavalcante’s escape last week mirrored an escape earlier this spring when another inmate, Igor Bolt, got out the same way. The difference, Holland said, was the tower guard on duty.
“In Bolt’s escape, the tower officer observed the subject leaving the yard area and contacted control immediately. That’s why Bolt was apprehended within five minutes. In the escape of Cavalcante, the tower officer did not observe, nor report the escape,” Holland said.
He added that procedures are underway to better secure the overhead area in that section of the exercise yard. It will be capped with razor wire, he said. Razor wire was there, but there was one section where there was mesh instead. That will be corrected, Holland said. Security consultants are being brought in to examine the scene.
Holland also gave a timeline of the incident on Aug. 31.
8:33 a.m.: Cavalcante’s block entered the exercise yard.
8:51 a.m.: Cavalcante escaped by crab-walking up a wall, pushed through some razor wire, ran across a roof, scaled another fence, and pushed his way through more razor wire.
9:35 a.m.: Cavalcante’s block returned from the exercise yard.
9:45 a.m.: Officers in Cavalcante’s block notified central control that Cavalcante was not present. It was initially thought that he was in the telephone area, but that was proved wrong.
9:50 a.m.: The prison was locked down and a special count was conducted.
10:01 a.m.: The escape siren was sounded, and the 911 center was notified.
“Just as we do with any security-related incident, we will thoroughly review all of our practices, policies, and procedures, and make improvements as appropriate,” Holland said.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col George Bivens said the search continues and will continue until Cavalcante is found. He said there was a sighting of the escaped prisoner along a creek bed by Chandler Road in Pennsbury Township Tuesday evening. That street, and N. Creek Road between Route 1 in Chadds Ford Township and Route 926 in Birmingham Township were also closed. That section of Creek Road was still blocked off Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.
Bivens was asked whether any infrared or other type of heat-sensing technology was being employed in the search. He did not answer directly but did say all types of technology are available.
Bivens also said he has an idea of where Cavalcante wants to go, but declined to where that is, other than he thinks the escapee is trying to go south.
Danelo Cavalcante is 34 years old, 5 feet tall, and weighs 120 pounds. He’s been on the run for a week and has found or stolen a backpack, a duffle bag, and a hoodie. He also broke into one home and stole food.
Bivens thinks that the pressure of the search is getting to Cavalcante.
One canine involved in the search did suffer heat exhaustion, but is recovering, Bivens said.
The reward for information leading to Cavalcante's capture has increased to $20,000.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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