Sarah Brandao lives in fear after Danelo Calvacante, her sister’s killer, escaped from the Chester County Jail in southeastern Pennsylvania on August 31.
“I take a nap and wake up scared,” she said in an interview with CNN.
At the time of his escape, Cavalcante, 34, of Brazilian descent, was in the Chester County Jail awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve his life sentence.
The murder of Deborah Brandao
In April 2021, in front of the victim’s minor children, aged four and seven, Calvacante stabbed his girlfriend 38 times in their home.
The 33-year-old woman suffered stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, shoulders, mouth and neck.
According to prosecutors, the dispute between the now-fugitive and his victim began because she wanted to leave him after learning that he was facing charges in Brazil for a 2017 murder.
The indictment alleged that the fugitive killed his victim to prevent him from telling police about charges pending against him in Brazil, where authorities are also looking for him in the death of a man.
Calvacante is currently the subject of an extensive search involving hundreds of agents.
According to the authorities, the fugitive is “extremely dangerous” and absolutely does not want to be caught.
Danelo Calvacante’s history of domestic violence culminated in a gruesome murder
At the beginning of her relationship with her sister, Brandao considered Cavalcante to be a good neighbor and a kind person who was also a Brazilian compatriot, the woman told CNN.
Over time, however, Calvacante became a jealous person, even threatening his sister with “the worst” if she ever betrayed her.
The relationship lasted about a year and a half.
Cavalcante has a history of violence against his girlfriend.
In June 2020, police responded to a disturbance report at the couple’s home, which is 32 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Brandao told agents that Cavalcante attacked her during an argument, including in front of her children.
The police issued a warrant for his arrest for aggravated assault, and Cavalcante, through his sister, promised to turn himself in, but he never did.
After a second attack in December 2020, in which Cavalcante pursued her with a knife, Deborah Brandao requested and was granted a restraining order for abuse against Cavalcante.
That order was overturned in March 2021 because the victim failed to appear for a family court hearing. A month later she was dead.
Sarah Brandao says she lives in fear and terror
“I haven’t slept for many days. “Ever since he escaped, I wake up scared at night,” he told CNN, adding that at Cavalcante’s sentencing last month, he was relieved that his sister was honored and experienced justice.
“I’m desperate, desperate, very scared. “Of course I’m thinking about my kids,” Sarah told CNN, concerned that Cavalcante was after her and might show up at her house.
However, Brandao believes the police will arrest Cavalcante.
Brandao now took care of his sister’s children. “I have a house cleaning company. My husband owns a ground service business. And we keep working on our little lives and trying to do what’s best for the kids, which is what I’ve been doing since I lost my sister,” she said.
