Judge rules escape charge against convicted murderer Cavalcante can proceed to trial

The judge found there is enough evidence to forward to county court for trial all of the charges against Danilo Cavalcante, including burglary, trespassing and car theft.

Law enforcement officers ride by a roadblock as the search for escaped convict Danilo Cavalcante continues in Pottstown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023.

File photo: Law enforcement officers ride by a roadblock as the search for escaped convict Danilo Cavalcante continues in Pottstown, Pa., Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Cavalcante, a convicted murderer who escaped from a southeastern Pennsylvania prison earlier this year and eluded a massive two-week search before he was recaptured, was arraigned Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, on theft, burglary and other charges in connection with alleged crimes committed while he was on the run. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

A district judge said Friday that Pennsylvania prosecutors have sufficient grounds to continue to press escape and other charges against a convicted murderer captured last year after two weeks on the run.

The judge found there is enough evidence to forward to county court for trial all of the charges against Danilo Cavalcante, including burglary, trespassing and car theft.

Cavalcante’s escape from the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31, captured on video, involved scaling a wall, climbing over razor wire and jumping from a roof. Authorities said that during the extensive manhunt for him, Cavalcante stole a transit van. He’s also accused of burglarizing homes in an area of southeastern Pennsylvania, stealing a rifle, ammunition, clothing, a sleeping bag and other items.

A message seeking comment was left with the Chester County public defender’s office, listed on the court docket as representing Cavalcante.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Cavalcante, 34, did not testify Friday. He is a native of Brazil and prosecutors have said he killed ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao to stop her from telling police about charges against him there in connection with a 2017 slaying.

Cavalcante had been sentenced to life for killing Brandao in front of her children in 2021 when he escaped from custody while awaiting transfer to a state prison.

He was captured when a plane’s thermal imaging camera detected his heat signal. Teams on the ground secured the area, surrounded him and moved in with search dogs.

The Chester County jail is roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Philadelphia.

Never miss a moment with the WHYY Listen App!

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal