Danelo Cavalcante update: Reward increased for Chester County Prison escaped inmate to $25K
GLENMOORE, Pa. (CBS) -- The reward for information leading to Chester County Prison escapee Danelo Cavalcante's capture has been increased by $5,000 by the county, bringing the total to $25,000, Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said Monday.
Bivens said Cavalcante's sister is being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and has been entered into a deportation proceeding. Bivens said she was an "overstay" and chose not to assist in her brother's capture.
Bivens said anyone who assists Cavalcante, 34, will be prosecuted.
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Law enforcement leading the search said there's no indication Cavalcante has left Pennsylvania, but they are prepared for a national search. Their concern is that Cavalcante has already or will try to steal another vehicle after he used a van in an attempt to get help from two former colleagues.
Police said Monday morning that manpower has doubled following a shift in the search to northern Chester County over the weekend. Now, some 300 people are said to be involved in the search for Cavalcante. Law enforcement is in the area without a definitive search perimeter.
"If a possible threat develops, we'll use the reverse 911 system to notify affected residences," Bivens said.
Police believe Cavalcante was able to break through their perimeter by using an underground tunnel or drainage ditch.
Investigators said Saturday night that he stole a van from Baily's Dairy Farm in West Chester after someone left the keys inside. He ditched it after it ran out of gas.
Detectives said he then tried to seek help from two former coworkers, one of whom shared images of Cavalcante from their doorbell camera, in the Phoenixville area. The images show he's now clean-shaven with a green hoodie.
Cavalcante hasn't been spotted since he was seen on Saturday night. Police said one of his former associates even had a conversation with him in Portuguese over the Ring doorbell.
Police said Cavalcante has not been in contact with those individuals in years.
"Now, we're going to prepare for the long game and the long game is what we do best," Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark, the supervisor of the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force for eastern Pennsylvania, said.
Authorities focused their search in northern Chester County, with a large police presence in Glenmoore during the evening hours Sunday. Officers were in East Nantmeal on Monday.
Neighbors remain nervous about when this search will be over.
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"It's been difficult," Tammy Korczynski said, "but it's even more difficult now that it's in our backyard and really, we're not surprised because this is where he's familiar."
Robert Kirkner, of East Nantmeal, said he's never seen anything like this in Chester County before.
Kirkner said his slice of northern Chester County is normally quiet.
"Every cop within 20 miles of here was here," Kirkner said.
Several school districts in the area are open and operating on normal schedules Monday.
In a letter posted online, Phoenixville Area Schools and several schools in the Downingtown Area School District are moving outdoor activities inside as the search continues.
Pennsylvania State Police are not commenting at this time if there have been any additional sightings of Cavalcante.
Police are urging the public to remain vigilant, check their surveillance cameras and report any sightings of Cavalcante.
