Convicted murderer Danelo Cavalcante escapes Pennsylvania prison

An 5-foot-tall murderer escaped from a Pennsylvania prison Thursday, just one week after getting a life sentence for stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death, authorities said.

The area within a six-mile radius of the Chester County Prison, outside Philadelphia, was put on high alert, as residents were warned that Danelo Cavalcante, 34, was on the loose and a serious danger to the public.

“Danelo Cavalcante is considered an extremely dangerous man. We are asking for the public’s help in locating him,” Chester County DA Deb Ryan said in a statement.

“Law enforcement is doing everything now to locate him.”

It wasn’t immediately clear how he escaped.

The Brazilian, who speaks Spanish and Portuguese, was sentenced to life in prison without parole last week over the April 2021 slaying of his 33-year-old ex-girlfriend.

Cavalcante was convicted of stabbing Deborah Brandao more than a dozen times outside her home near Philadelphia as her two kids, a 7-year-old girl and 3-year-old boy, watched.

The fugitive is also wanted over a 2017 murder in Brazil, the district attorney said.

Residents living within a six-mile radius of the prison were put on high alert in the wake of his escape — as authorities scoured the grounds and surrounding area for him.

Cavalcante was last spotted walking along Wawaset Road, which leads to the prison, at 9:40 a.m. wearing a white T-shirt, gray shorts and white sneakers.

He was described by officials as 5 feet, 120 pounds and light-skinned. Cavalcante also has shaggy, curly black hair and brown eyes, authorities added.

“If you see this individual, do not approach him. Call 911 immediately,” Ryan warned.