MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — More than a dozen new charges have been filed against escaped murderer Danilo Cavalcante, who eluded state, local and federal authorities in Chester County for two weeks before being recaptured in September.
Cavalcante, 34, was already charged in that Aug. 31 escape from Chester County Prison. He was about to start serving a life sentence just days after being convicted of the first-degree murder of his ex-girlfriend.
A new criminal complaint, filed on Monday, details 20 additional charges against Cavalcante for crimes he is accused of committing while he was on the run — including trespassing, theft, unlawful possession of a firearm, and two counts of burglary.
"The defendant used all means necessary to escape from prison and stay hidden from authorities. These offenses aided his efforts and elevated his threat to the public," said Attorney General Michelle Henry, who announced the new charges.
Those charges include burglary and criminal trespass for entering a home in Pennsbury about a mile from the county jail on Sept. 1, the night after his escape. The homeowner told police he woke up around 11:30 p.m. when heard noises downstairs. He is accused of stealing a backpack, a knife, a sleeping bag, a shirt and a shaving razor.
He is also charged with stealing a van from a dairy farm, also about a mile from the prison, on Sept. 9 and driving it to South Coventry Township in northern Chester County.
He faces additional charges of burglary and trespass for sneaking into a garage in South Coventry on Sept. 11, and stealing a loaded .22 rifle. The homeowner was in the garage at the time and fired several shots at Cavalcante but didn’t hit him.
Cavalcante is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm. He had that rifle with him when he was taken into custody two days later, on Sept. 13.
He is expected to be arraigned on the new charges Friday.
"The new charges against Cavalcante speak to the lengths he went to in his unsuccessful efforts to elude law enforcement," said Pennsylvania State Police Deputy Commissioner Lt. Col. George Bivens, who led the manhunt. "We appreciate the Office of Attorney General’s work in prosecuting the case, and remain thankful to the residents of Chester County for their support during the search and to our local, state and federal law enforcement partners for their assistance."
Cavalcante is now serving out his life sentence at State Correctional Institution Phoenix.