Cavalcanti was caught on a trail camera while traveling on foot through the gardens on Monday, September 4. Video footage showed the fugitive carrying two bags and wearing a hooded sweatshirt. On Thursday, another possible sighting led to the parks being closed until further notice.
Longwood Gardens will open Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., according to a statement on its website. Cavalcanti’s manhunt turned north after he broke out of the initial search perimeter. As of Monday morning, there was no information on the convicted killer’s whereabouts, even after authorities said they believed they had “cornered” him in the town of East Nantmal on Sunday evening.
Over the weekend, Cavalcanti was spotted in northern Chester County outside of Phoenixville, about 25 miles from the Chester County Jail. He escaped on August 31. Cavalcanti’s sister was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and now faces possible deportation, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivins said at a news conference on Sunday.
Pennsylvania State Police said Cavalcanti, 34, stole a refrigerated truck from a dairy farm and tried to contact former co-workers. He was captured on a Ring doorbell camera Saturday night sporting a clean shaven appearance and changing his clothes.
On Sunday, authorities intensified their search for Cavalcanti in the Chester County town of East Nantmile, where he was seen after abandoning the white truck he had stolen the day before. Police found the truck Sunday afternoon with the keys in the ignition.
Cavalcanti was convicted of murder in August, after he fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Deborah Brandao, in front of her children in 2021. Cavalcanti was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. He was being held in the county jail before being transferred to state prison when his escape was discovered.
Last week, authorities released a video of Cavalcanti’s escape from the Chester County Jail, which shows him strategically “crab-walking” between two walls using his arms and legs before disappearing from view of the camera. Cavalcanti then entered through the barbed wire and escaped from the roof of the facility, authorities said.
During his trial, prosecutors said Cavalcanti stabbed Brandao because she threatened to go to the police with information about his involvement in a murder in Brazil nearly six years ago.
Brazilian law enforcement authorities said Cavalcanti fatally shot a man in November 2017 after a dispute over an “alleged car repair debt,” and there had been a warrant for his arrest since June 2018.
The search for Cavalcanti entered its 12th day on Monday. More than 400 people were searching for Cavalcanti, including local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. As well as armed civilians Looking to help catch him. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to Cavalcanti’s arrest.
Anyone with information on Cavalcanti’s whereabouts can call 911 or the state police tip line at (717) 562-2987.