Danelo Cavalcante victim Deborah Brandão’s family under 24 hour security watch

The “terrified” family of the woman stabbed to death by an “extremely dangerous” convict who escaped from a Pennsylvania prison last week is cooped up in their home under round-the-clock police protection.

The loved ones of Deborah Brandão fear for their safety as her killer and ex-boyfriend, Danelo Cavalcante, is still on the run more than a week after he broke out of the Chester County prison by scaling a wall.

A week before his daring escape, Cavalcante was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the 33-year-old mother — whom he stabbed 38 times in front of her daughter and son, then just 7 and 3 years old, in April 2021.

He is also wanted in Brazil for a 2017 murder in the country, according to the Chester County district attorney.

Brandão had threatened to turn him in to authorities when she learned of the crime — which detectives said was his motive for the ghastly murder.

District Attorney Deb Ryan spoke of the family’s fears during a press conference Thursday in which investigators announced that the escapee may have been seen near Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden in the area, just before noon.

“They do have protection, and they are terrified. They haven’t left their home,” Ryan told reporters. “They’re barricaded inside and very concerned about their safety. We do have police details around them 24 hours a day, but I know they’re very, very worried.”

Brandão’s sister, who has taken over guardianship of her two children, two told CNN she is unable to sleep while Cavalcante is on the loose.

“I haven’t slept for many days. Since [his escape] I have been waking up with fright at night. I nap and wake up with fright,” Sarah Brandão told the station in an interview translated from Portuguese to English.

She said her sister and Cavalcante were neighbors who grew friendly and then dated for about a year and a half.

At first, he was kind to her and her children but as their relationship deepened, he grew jealous and controlling, Sarah said her sister shared.

“She kept saying that he was extremely jealous – that when he drank, he became a different person; that he kept going through her cell phone,” she told the news station.

Deborah eventually took out a protection from abuse order against him after he threatened her repeatedly. He killed her about a year later.

Sarah fears that Cavalcante could show up at her house as he evades authorities.

Police are now searching an 8- to 10-square-mile area by Longwood Gardens for the convicted killer. The botanical garden closed down after the reported sighting and will remain closed until further notice.

Cavalcante, 34, was captured on a trail camera in Longwood Gardens on Monday.

Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.