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(PHILADELPHIA) — Police have been on the heels of a convicted murderer who escaped from a suburban Philadelphia prison in late August.

Danelo Cavalcante, 34, was convicted of first-degree murder in August for fatally stabbing his former girlfriend in 2021.

Days after being sentenced, he broke out of the Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township — where he was waiting to be transferred to a state correctional institution — by copying a method another inmate used to escape from the prison weeks prior, officials said.

Cavalcante is also wanted for a homicide charge in his native country of Brazil, authorities said.

Here’s a look at major developments in the massive manhunt.

May 19

Inmate Igor Vidra Bolte breaks out of Chester County Prison by scaling a wall in an exercise yard to gain access to the roof, according to a criminal complaint obtained by ABC News. Bolte, who later told authorities he was a rock climber, then gets out of the prison by climbing down from the roof by the visitors’ entrance where there is less security and running off the grounds on the south side of the prison, according to the complaint.

A tower officer who observed Bolte leaving the yard area contacts control immediately, and the inmate is caught within 5 minutes of escaping, authorities said.

Aug. 16

Cavalcante is convicted of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing his former girlfriend 38 times in front of her two young children in 2021, officials said.

Aug. 22

Cavalcante is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Aug. 30

Howard Holland is named the acting warden of the Chester County Prison, a day after the prison board accepted the resignation of longtime warden Ronald Phillips.

Aug. 31

Cavalcante escapes from the prison at 8:51 a.m. by “crab walking” up a wall, pushing his way through razor wire installed after Bolte’s escape, running across the prison roof and scaling more razor wire, before making his getaway, according to Holland. The tower officer on duty at the time does not observe nor report the escape, according to Holland.

Cavalcante is first noticed missing about an hour later, after inmates are brought back in from the exercise yard. The prison is locked down at 9:50 a.m. and a public escape siren is sounded at 10:01 a.m., according to Holland.

Chester County Commissioners and the U.S. Marshals are offering a combined $10,000 reward in the case.

Sept. 2

Cavalcante is recorded around 1:43 a.m. on a residential Ring doorbell camera on the 1800 block of Lenape Road in Pocopson Township, about 1.5 miles from the prison, officials say. He is wearing a white T-shirt, white sneakers and a backpack.

Sept. 4

Cavalcante is recorded twice on a private trail camera set up at Longwood Gardens, a sprawling horticulture attraction about 5 miles southwest of the prison — first at 8:21 p.m. walking north in the gardens and then by the same camera at 9:33 p.m. walking south — according to Lt. Col. George Bivens, deputy commissioner of operations for the Pennsylvania State Police. He is wearing a backpack, a duffel sling-type pack and a hooded sweatshirt.

Sept. 7

The total reward for information that leads to the capture of Cavalcante increases to $20,000.

The corrections officer who was on duty in the guard tower when Cavalcante escaped is fired, according to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.

Sept. 9

Cavalcante allegedly steals a white Ford work van from Baily’s Dairy, about three-fourths of a mile from the perimeter around Longwood Gardens, according to Bivens.

At 9:52 p.m., he is captured on a video doorbell camera in East Pikeland Township, more than 20 miles from Longwood Gardens, at a residence that belongs to a man who once worked with Cavalcante, according to Bivens.

The previously bearded fugitive is now clean-shaven and wearing a green hooded sweatshirt over a dark baseball hat, and is seen driving the white Ford van. The former colleague is not home but speaks with Cavalcante via the video doorbell, according to Bivens.

Around 10:07 p.m., Cavalcante shows up at another former work colleague’s home in nearby Phoenixville, according to Bivens. That person is not home but a friend sees Cavalcante and calls the former work colleague, according to Bivens.

Sept. 10

The stolen van is found abandoned with no fuel at 10:40 a.m. in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, according to Bivens.

Sept. 11

Cavalcante’s prison shoes are recovered and another resident reports a pair of work boots were stolen from her porch, according to Bivens.

Around 10 p.m., a shirtless Cavalcante allegedly steals a .22-caliber rifle with a scope and flashlight from a resident’s garage on Coventryville Road in East Nantmeal Township, according to police. The homeowner, who is in the garage at the time, fires several shots at Cavalcante with a pistol, but the fugitive flees and is not believed to be harmed, according to Bivens.

The reward for information leading to Cavalcante’s capture increases to $25,000.

Sept. 12

Upward of 500 law enforcement are engaged in securing a perimeter, which is about 3 miles east to west and about 2.5 miles north to south and includes PA 23 to the north, PA 100 to the east, Fairview and Nantmeal Mill roads to the south and Iron Bridge and County Park roads to the west in Chester County, according to Bivens.

ABC News’ Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.

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(NEW YORK) — Police in Virginia announced the arrest of a man for the 1994 cold case murder of a 37-year-old woman.

The Fairfax County Police Department said Stephan Smerk, 51, is the suspect in the murder of Robin Lawrence, who was found stabbed to death inside her home in Springfield, Virginia, on Nov. 20, 1994. Lawrence’s daughter, only 2 years old at the time of the murder, was found alone in another room of the house unharmed.

The nearly 30-year-old case was solved, police said, after a genetic genealogy analysis.

Investigators were then able to obtain a consensual DNA sample from Smerk at his home in New York and later a “full confession” to the crime, police said. Smerk, who was on active duty in the Army at the time of the murder, had been living at the Fort Myer base in Northern Virginia when the killing occurred, police said.

“He chose her seemingly randomly, and it was a heinous, heinous scene. And I’ve seen a lot of crime scenes in person and photographs of one, and this one was particularly gruesome,” Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a press conference.

Smerk had no prior arrest record before being taken into custody this month, and police said they don’t believe he was suspected of any similar crimes. Smerk had no apparent connection to the victim, police said. He’s currently in custody in New York and is awaiting extradition to Virginia.

ABC News was not immediately able to locate a legal representative for Smerk.

“We as the family who’s sitting here to my left would like to thank the Fairfax and Niskayuna police departments for their work on this case. We look forward to learning more about the process and next steps,” Lauren Ovans, a cousin of the victim, told reporters Monday.

Police collected DNA from the 1994 crime scene, but had no matches to the genetic profile, which was uploaded to the national database for DNA. The use of the genetic genealogy analysis helped break the case after cold case detectives submitted that DNA to Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia DNA technology-based company, police said.

The police force was able to develop “a profile using that DNA and began searching genealogical databases. They use that information to develop a family tree which they provided to our detectives and a volunteer who worked with our cold case detectives,” said Fairfax Police Deputy Chief of Investigations Eli Cory.

Before traveling to New York, Fairfax County cold case detectives say they compared a composite sketch of the suspect to Smerk’s high school yearbook picture and a DMV picture of him in the 1990s.

Smerk’s willingness to cooperate was “highly unusual, so that was a clue to our detectives that something may be afoot,” Chief Davis said.

The Fairfax County cold case detectives left after meeting with Smerk and were preparing to return to Virginia when they say Smerk called and told them, “I want to talk and I want to talk right now,” police said. Detectives advised him to call 911 and go to the local police station, according to police.

Smerk, who was working as a software engineer, “fully described his involvement. It is beyond involvement, he talked about killing Robin. And he talked a little bit about some more details that I won’t go into, but it was a full confession. And it was a confession with more than enough details. Coupled with the genetic genealogy research,” Davis said.

He added, “The evidence that we have the strength of this case is overwhelming. And we feel fully comfortable that he’s going to be successfully prosecuted right here in Fairfax County.”

 

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(NEW YORK) — A Grand Canyon hiker has died while attempting to hike rim-to-rim in a single day at the national park.

Ranjith Varma — a 55-year-old man from Manassas, Virginia — was attempting to hike from the Grand Canyon’s south rim to the north rim in a single day on Saturday when the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received an emergency call at approximately 1:55 p.m. of a “hiker in distress” on the North Kaibab Trail, about one mile south of Cottonwood Campround, according to a statement released by the National Park Service (NPS) on Monday.

The trail is notoriously difficult and few people who visit the park take on the challenge.

“For the hearty souls who are willing to work for it – less than one percent of the Grand Canyon’s five million annual visitors – the real magic lies below the rim,” the National Parks Foundation says on their website. “On this epic Grand Canyon hike, you’ll leave from the North Kaibab Trail on the North Rim, challenging your personal limits as you descend 14.3 miles and 6,000 feet to the bottom of the canyon before connecting with the Bright Angel Trail and climbing 4,500 feet and 9.6 miles back out again to the South Rim.”

Varma became unresponsive and bystanders began initiating CPR on him, according to NPS.

“National Park Service search and rescue personnel responded to the call via helicopter,” NPS said in their statement. “Given the location, specialized helicopter maneuvers were employed to allow rangers to assume care of the hiker, initiating advance life support efforts.”

Attempts to resuscitate Varma were ultimately unsuccessful and the 55-year-old died during his rim-to-rim attempt at the Grand Canyon.

Park officials took the opportunity to warn people about the dangers of hiking, particularly during extreme heat.

“In the summer, temperatures on exposed parts of the trail can reach over 120°F (49 °C) in the shade. Park rangers strongly advise not hiking in the inner canyon during the heat of the day between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.,” NPS said. “Be aware that efforts to assist hikers may be delayed during the summer months due to limited staff, the number of rescue calls, employee safety requirements, and limited helicopter flying capability during periods of extreme heat or inclement weather.”

Hikers are strongly encouraged to read the Hiking Tips page and check the Backcountry Updates and Closures page for current information on inner canyon conditions on NPS’ website before embarking on any journey.

An investigation into the Varma’s death is being now being conducted by the NPS in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner and authorities confirmed that no further information will be made available at this time.

 

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(NEW YORK) — Pennsylvania authorities are warning that escaped convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante is armed with a .22-caliber rifle with a scope and flashlight that he allegedly stole from a resident’s garage overnight.

Around 10 p.m. Monday, that resident called police to say Cavalcante had entered his garage and grabbed a rifl, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a news conference Tuesday.

The homeowner, who was in the garage at the time, fired several shots at Cavalcante with a pistol, but Cavalcante fled, Bivens said.

Cavalcante’s prison shoes were recovered Monday night and another resident said a pair of work boots were stolen from her porch, Bivens said.

“Residents in the area are asked to lock all doors and windows, secure vehicles, and remain indoors. Do not approach. Call 911 if seen,” Pennsylvania State Police said.
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Authorities said they’re now searching a large, wooded area for Cavalcante, 34, who broke out of a Pennsylvania prison 12 days ago.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday defended police efforts to recapture him.

“Law enforcement, I think, has responded well to each and every piece of information that we got, and I’m confident we’re gonna get this guy,” Shapiro said.

The governor also urged Cavalcante to turn himself in, saying, “The gig is almost up.”

Shapiro called Cavalcante’s escape “unacceptable” and promised a full investigation into how it occurred

Police said Monday they were concerned Cavalcante will try to steal another car and they’re urging the public to check their home surveillance videos and keep their houses and cars secured.

This comes after Cavalcante snuck through a perimeter guarded by hundreds of officers, stole a van, altered his appearance and drove miles north where he tried to contact two former work colleagues.

Bivens said Cavalcante was spotted late Saturday in East Pikeland Township, more than 20 miles from where officials thought they had him pinned down in the Longwood Gardens, a sprawling horticulture attraction about 5 miles southwest of the prison he escaped from in Pocopson Township.

“No perimeter is 100% secure, ever. I’m not going to make excuses. I wish it had not happened,” Bivens said. “This is a minor setback. We’ll get him. It’s only a matter of time.”

Bivens said Cavalcante allegedly stole a white Ford work van from Baily’s Dairy on Saturday night about three-fourths of a mile from the perimeter around Longwood Gardens. He said the van was unlocked and the keys were left inside.

The van was found abandoned and out of fuel at 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, Bivens said.

Officials released still photos from a video doorbell camera of a clean-shaven Cavalcante wearing a green hooded sweatshirt over a dark baseball hat.

Bivens said the video was taken at 9:52 p.m. Saturday at the home in East Pikeland Township, near East Nantmeal Township, that belongs to a man who once worked with Cavalcante.

“He spoke with the individual via a video doorbell at that residence and inquired about meeting with that individual,” Bivens said.

He said Cavalcante’s former colleague was not home at the time. He said that when the homeowner returned to the residence he checked the footage on his surveillance camera and called local police.

At the time he was recorded on the doorbell camera, Cavalcante was seen driving the white Ford van.

Cavalcante, according to Bivens, also showed up at another former work colleague’s home in nearby Phoenixville around 10:07 p.m. Saturday.

“That associate was not home but a female resident observed Cavalcante and called her friend. That friend responded to the residence and eventually placed a call to local police,” Bivens said.

State police were not notified for at least two hours after Saturday night’s sighting, officials said.

Bivens said Cavalcante is showing his desperation by attempting to contact associates.

“He’s absolutely looking for support. He needs that support and doesn’t have it,” Bivens said.

Bivens said on Monday that Cavalcante’s sister chose not to help in the investigation, and because she has an overstay status, she has been entered into a deportation proceeding and is being detained.

Cavalcante escaped on Aug. 31 from Chester County Prison, where he was being held after being convicted of stabbing his former girlfriend to death in broad daylight, officials said. He’s alleged to have sneaked out of the prison by “crab walking” up a wall in a prison recreation yard, pushing his way through razor wire and accessing the roof, where he climbed down and made his getaway an hour before prison guards realized he was missing, officials said.

Bivens said police are “authorized to use deadly force” if Cavalcante is cornered and refuses to surrender peacefully.

Authorities stressed that anyone who helps Cavalcante will be prosecuted.

A $25,000 reward is available.

 

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(NEW YORK) — An 8-year-old Florida boy was accidentally shot when a burn barrel with guns inside was set on fire, authorities said.

The boy was cleaning up a backyard with his grandmother and other children at the time of the Monday incident, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.

A burn barrel was filled with yard waste and then set on fire, authorities said. But two guns were under the debris in the burn barrel, and a shot went off while the boy was standing next to the barrel, according to the sheriff’s office.

The boy’s family heard two more shots as they rushed him to the hospital, authorities said.

The 8-year-old suffered a through-and-through gunshot to his lower leg and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The incident “appears to be accidental and negligent,” the sheriff’s office said.

 

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(NEW YORK) — Amid all the death and destruction seen in Lahaina following last month’s wildfires, one group of student-athletes is pushing forward to give the community hope.

The Lahainaluna High School football team practiced for the first time since the fires struck and the players were eager to get back in the game.

The team’s school and field were destroyed during the blaze last month, and many of the players’ homes were also damaged. Still, the players traveled more than an hour to Kihei for the practice.

Mauaalina Montgomery, a 16-year-old player who is on the team along with his brother, told ABC News that playing helped to get his mind off all of the struggles his family has faced, including losing their home.

“We’re playing for them, all the Lahaina people. It feels good to play for them,” he said. “Because we all lost something.”

Dean Rickard, the team’s co-head coach, told ABC News that there was a lot of concern from the players on whether or not their season would be over or if the entire team would be together.
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The team worked with parents to come up with a modified schedule and found a place to practice.

“There were options being thrown around where they could enroll at other schools if they intended to play sports, but for them, it wasn’t an option because they couldn’t see themselves wearing any other color than red,” Rickard said.

Tamara Montgomery, Mauaalina’s mother, told ABC News she was proud that the team was able to come together and give the community something to look forward to in the coming weeks as people continue to pick up the pieces.

“In Lahaina, our community, it’s all about the kids — whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, we HUI together — or come together as one to support,” she said. “And for Lahaina, our football team plays a huge role in that.”

 

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(NEW YORK) — A 54-year-old man has been arrested after police said they searched his home and found approximately 170 lbs. of cocaine.

The discovery occurred early on Saturday morning when authorities from St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office in LaPlace, Louisiana — approximately 30 miles west of New Orleans — began an investigation at the LaPlace home.

“On Saturday, September 9, 2023, officers began an investigation at the LaPlace home. During the course of the investigation, packages of cocaine were discovered,” read a statement from St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office released on Monday. “About 77 kilos of cocaine with a street value of about $2 million were confiscated.”

It is unclear where the suspect in the case was at the time of the police investigation, but authorities confirmed that a 54-year-old man was arrested early on Monday morning in regard to the cocaine discovered at the property.

The unnamed male was charged with possession and intent to distribute, a felony in the state of Louisiana, and is now being held in custody in lieu of a $750,000 bond.

Authorities said the investigation into the case is currently ongoing.

 

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(NEW YORK) — Pennsylvania authorities warned that escaped convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was armed, as they pursued him through the town of South Coventry in the early hours of Tuesday.

“He is armed. Residents in the area are asked to lock all doors and windows, secure vehicles, and remain indoors. Do not approach. Call 911 if seen,” Pennsylvania State Police officials wrote in a social media post.

Police said they were pursuing the escaped inmate in the area near Ridge, Coventryville and Daisy Point roads in Chester County, police said.

Philadelphia ABC station WPVI confirmed that a homeowner on Coventryville Road shot at someone matching Cavalcante’s description on Monday night. It was unclear if the individual was hit, but sources believe the person is armed and may be the convicted killer, according to WPVI.

A pair of shoes were found in the search, though it was unknown if they belong to the fugitive, WPVI reported.

Authorities earlier had said they didn’t have a defined search area, who has been on the run since he broke out of a Pennsylvania prison 12 days ago.

Investigators had believed Cavalcante is in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but “always consider other options,” Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a Monday news conference.

Bivens noted that Cavalcante’s sister chose not to help in the investigation, and because she has an overstay status, she has been entered into a deportation proceeding and is being detained.

Police said Monday they’re concerned Cavalcante will try to steal another car and they’re urging the public to check their home surveillance videos and keep their houses and cars secured.

This comes after Cavalcante, 34, snuck through a perimeter guarded by hundreds of officers, stole a van, altered his appearance and drove miles north where he tried to contact two former work colleagues.

Cavalcante was spotted late Saturday in East Pikeland Township, more than 20 miles from where officials thought they had him pinned down in the Longwood Gardens, a sprawling horticulture attraction about 5 miles southwest of the prison he escaped from in Pocopson Township, Bivens said Sunday.

“No perimeter is 100% secure, ever. I’m not going to make excuses. I wish it had not happened,” Bivens said. “This is a minor setback. We’ll get him. It’s only a matter of time.”

Bivens said Cavalcante allegedly stole a white Ford work van from Baily’s Dairy sometime Saturday night about three-fourths of a mile from the perimeter around Longwood Gardens. He said the van was unlocked and the keys were left inside, enabling Cavalcante to easily steal the vehicle.

The van was found abandoned at 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, Bivens said, adding that the van had run out of fuel.

Officials released still photos from a video doorbell camera of a clean-shaven Cavalcante wearing a green hooded sweatshirt over a dark baseball hat.

Bivens said the video was taken at 9:52 p.m. Saturday at the home in East Pikeland Township, near East Nantmeal Township, that belongs to a man who once worked with Cavalcante.

“He spoke with the individual via a video doorbell at that residence and inquired about meeting with that individual,” Bivens said.

He said Cavalcante’s former colleague was not home at the time. He said that when the homeowner returned to the residence he checked the footage on his surveillance camera and called local police.

At the time he was recorded on the doorbell camera, Cavalcante was seen driving the white Ford van.

Cavalcante, according to Bivens, also showed up at another former work colleague’s home in nearby Phoenixville around 10:07 p.m. Saturday.

“That associate was not home but a female resident observed Cavalcante and called her friend. That friend responded to the residence and eventually placed a call to local police,” Bivens said.

State police were not notified for at least two hours after Saturday night’s sighting, officials said.

There have not been any more sightings since the doorbell camera video, officials said.

Bivens said Cavalcante is showing his desperation by attempting to contact associates.

“He’s absolutely looking for support. He needs that support and doesn’t have it,” Bivens said.

Cavalcante escaped Aug. 31 from Chester County Prison, where he was being held after being convicted of stabbing his former girlfriend to death in broad daylight, officials said. He’s alleged to have sneaked out of the prison by “crab walking” up a wall in a prison recreation yard, pushing his way through razor wire and accessing the roof, where he climbed down and made his getaway an hour before prison guards realized he was missing, officials said.

Authorities believe Cavalante followed the same route and method of escape as an inmate who bolted from the prison in May.

Police have received numerous reports of sightings, mostly in the Pocopson Township area.

Law enforcement warned that Cavalcante should be considered “extremely dangerous.”

Bivens said he has no “substantive proof” that Cavalcante has obtained a weapon, but noted that investigators believe he has burglarized several homes.

He said police are “authorized to use deadly force” if Cavalcante is cornered and refuses to surrender peacefully.

Authorities stressed that anyone who helps Cavalcante will be prosecuted.

A $25,000 reward is available.

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(LAS VEGAS) — Several major hotels in Las Vegas, including the Bellagio, were left with faulty door locks, inoperable slot machines and other problems Monday after hotel officials said they were hit with a cyberattack.

The FBI said it is investigating the attack on MGM Resorts International hotels, which happened early Monday morning. The company said, “it took prompt action to protect our system and data, including shutting down certain systems.”

“Our investigation is ongoing, and we are working diligently to determine the nature and scope of the matter,” MGM said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The company would not provide additional details of what was affected, however, it appeared to disrupt several key hotel systems.

Later in the evening, MGM said its “casino gaming floors” were operational. “We continue to work diligently to resolve this issue,” the company said in a statement.

Bellagio guests were unable to charge anything to their rooms, make reservations, or use their digital room keys, according to ABC affiliate KTNV.

Several slot machines also appeared to be out of service at the Aria casino, KTNV reported.

The MGM international website was also down and was not allowing online bookings. The site redirected customers to their hotel’s phone numbers for help.

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(NEW YORK) — Pennsylvania authorities warned that escaped convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante was armed, as they pursued him through the town of South Coventry in the early hours of Tuesday.

“He is armed. Residents in the area are asked to lock all doors and windows, secure vehicles, and remain indoors. Do not approach. Call 911 if seen,” Pennsylvania State Police officials wrote in a social media post.

Police said they were pursuing the escaped inmate in the area near Ridge, Coventryville and Daisy Point roads in Chester County, police said.

Authorities earlier had said they didn’t have a defined search area, who has been on the run since he broke out of a Pennsylvania prison 12 days ago.

Investigators had believed Cavalcante is in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but “always consider other options,” Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said at a Monday news conference.

Bivens noted that Cavalcante’s sister chose not to help in the investigation, and because she has an overstay status, she has been entered into a deportation proceeding and is being detained.

Police said Monday they’re concerned Cavalcante will try to steal another car and they’re urging the public to check their home surveillance videos and keep their houses and cars secured.

This comes after Cavalcante, 34, snuck through a perimeter guarded by hundreds of officers, stole a van, altered his appearance and drove miles north where he tried to contact two former work colleagues.

Cavalcante was spotted late Saturday in East Pikeland Township, more than 20 miles from where officials thought they had him pinned down in the Longwood Gardens, a sprawling horticulture attraction about 5 miles southwest of the prison he escaped from in Pocopson Township, Bivens said Sunday.

“No perimeter is 100% secure, ever. I’m not going to make excuses. I wish it had not happened,” Bivens said. “This is a minor setback. We’ll get him. It’s only a matter of time.”

Bivens said Cavalcante allegedly stole a white Ford work van from Baily’s Dairy sometime Saturday night about three-fourths of a mile from the perimeter around Longwood Gardens. He said the van was unlocked and the keys were left inside, enabling Cavalcante to easily steal the vehicle.

The van was found abandoned at 10:40 a.m. Sunday in a field behind a barn in East Nantmeal Township, Bivens said, adding that the van had run out of fuel.

Officials released still photos from a video doorbell camera of a clean-shaven Cavalcante wearing a green hooded sweatshirt over a dark baseball hat.

Bivens said the video was taken at 9:52 p.m. Saturday at the home in East Pikeland Township, near East Nantmeal Township, that belongs to a man who once worked with Cavalcante.

“He spoke with the individual via a video doorbell at that residence and inquired about meeting with that individual,” Bivens said.

He said Cavalcante’s former colleague was not home at the time. He said that when the homeowner returned to the residence he checked the footage on his surveillance camera and called local police.

At the time he was recorded on the doorbell camera, Cavalcante was seen driving the white Ford van.

Cavalcante, according to Bivens, also showed up at another former work colleague’s home in nearby Phoenixville around 10:07 p.m. Saturday.

“That associate was not home but a female resident observed Cavalcante and called her friend. That friend responded to the residence and eventually placed a call to local police,” Bivens said.

State police were not notified for at least two hours after Saturday night’s sighting, officials said.

There have not been any more sightings since the doorbell camera video, officials said.

Bivens said Cavalcante is showing his desperation by attempting to contact associates.

“He’s absolutely looking for support. He needs that support and doesn’t have it,” Bivens said.

Cavalcante escaped Aug. 31 from Chester County Prison, where he was being held after being convicted of stabbing his former girlfriend to death in broad daylight, officials said. He’s alleged to have sneaked out of the prison by “crab walking” up a wall in a prison recreation yard, pushing his way through razor wire and accessing the roof, where he climbed down and made his getaway an hour before prison guards realized he was missing, officials said.

Authorities believe Cavalante followed the same route and method of escape as an inmate who bolted from the prison in May.

Police have received numerous reports of sightings, mostly in the Pocopson Township area.

Law enforcement warned that Cavalcante should be considered “extremely dangerous.”

Bivens said he has no “substantive proof” that Cavalcante has obtained a weapon, but noted that investigators believe he has burglarized several homes.

He said police are “authorized to use deadly force” if Cavalcante is cornered and refuses to surrender peacefully.

Authorities stressed that anyone who helps Cavalcante will be prosecuted.

A $25,000 reward is available.

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