Chester County Prison Escape Raises Questions; Cavalcante On Camera This A.M. — Chester County Prison escapee and multiple murderer Danelo Cavalcante was caught on camera at 12:20 this morning, Sept. 2, and police are investigating the area.
Cavalcante also reportedly broke into a home to steal food.
Cavalcante, 34, was convicted of first-degree murder, Aug. 16, for the April 2021 stabbing of Deborah Brandao, his ex-girlfriend, and sentenced to life in prison.
He was also wanted for murder in his native Brazil.
Cavalcante was being held at the 1,100 inmate county facility in Pocopson awaiting transfer to a state prison.
He apparently just walked out even being videoed by the surveillance system. An alarm wasn’t sounded for several hours.
The prison is overseen by a board consisting of the Chester County Commissioners, District Attorney Deborah Ryan, Sheriff Fredda Maddox, the county controller and the president judge of Common Pleas Court who is John L. Hall.
It is required to meet monthly and at least twice on site at the prison.
The prison had been reportedly suffering a shortage of correctional staff and Warden Ronald M. Phillips was placed on administrative leave in July.
Phillips was appointed warden in October 2020 following the retirement of long-time warden Ed McFadden. He started at the prision in 1983 and had been deputy warden under McFadden.
Cavalcante’s escape occurred the day after Phillips’ official retirement.
Howard Holland, the former police chief of Downingtown, is interim warden.
If Chester County still had the Sheriff Office’s K-9 detachment Cavalcante would have been rounded up within hours.
Competence matters.
And why are there vacancies among the prison staff?
Chester County Prison Escape Raises Questions; Cavalcante On Camera This A.M.
