CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. — A convicted murderer who escaped from a southeastern Pennsylvania prison last year and eluded a massive two-week search before he was recaptured appeared in court for a preliminary hearing on Friday morning on theft, burglary, and other charges.
All charges were bound over, which means the case will proceed towards trial.
The case is being prosecuted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. A spokesperson from the office tells FOX43 Cavalcante requested to appear in person at Friday's hearing, which is his constitutional right.
Danelo Cavalcante, 34, escaped from Chester County Prison on Aug. 31, 2023, and stole a transit van and burglarized homes in southeastern Pennsylvania, where a rifle and ammunition, clothing, a sleeping bag and other items were stolen.
Cavalcante had been sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of killing Deborah Brandao in front of her children in 2021. Prosecutors say he wanted to stop her from telling police he was wanted in a 2017 killing in Brazil. He was awaiting transfer to a state prison when he scaled a wall and then jumped from a roof to escape.
Cavalcante was captured Sept. 13 after a two-week search that left residents on edge and led to school closures right at the start of the academic year, as well as warnings for residents to lock their doors and blocked roads over the busy Labor Day weekend.
Law enforcement’s big break came when a plane fitted with a thermal imaging camera picked up Cavalcante’s heat signal, allowing teams on the ground to secure the area, surround him and move in with search dogs.
At Friday's hearing, Cavalcante was silent as several witnesses testified. He had a translator with him, and was accompanied by several law enforcement officers.
FOX43 was in the courtroom for the hearing, which lasted more than two hours.
Testimony was heard from investigators, as well as multiple corrections employees who were working at the Chester County Prison on Aug. 31, the day Cavalcante escaped.
They went through some of the video evidence from that day, including the viral video of Cavalcante crab walking up the prison walls.
Several victims of Cavalcante's alleged crimes during his time on the run also testified.
We heard from the man whose home Cavalcante broke into the night of Sept. 1. He testified Cavalcante got into his house through a door that was closed, but not locked. Cavalcante allegedly stole a backpack, sleeping bag, razor, small knife, a shirt, and some food from this home.
The man who had his rifle stolen out of his garage by Cavalcante several nights later also testified.
That man came face to face with Cavalcante and testified that he told the convicted murderer "Don't do it, don't do it," as he picked up the .22 rifle. He said he then chased after Cavalcante with a pistol, firing four shots at him.
"I thought I hit him, but obviously I didn't," the witness said in court Friday.
Cavalcante was still in possession of that gun when he was captured on Sept. 13.
Cavalcante is scheduled to be formally arraigned February 15. He is being housed in the Chester County Prison until then, according to court documents.