Cavalcante’s escape from Chester County Prison began around 8:33 a.m. on Aug. 31. Within minutes, he had made his way to the roof and through a new razor wire fence that had been installed after another inmate attempted a prison break this year.
Prison officials would not notice Cavalcante’s disappearance for an hour. The prison was locked down and guards conducted a head count of inmates, but it was too late. Cavalcante was on the run.
Authorities received their first break from a tipster who reported seeing Cavalcante walking along a road near the prison around the same time prison authorities noticed his disappearance. It would turn out to be the first of several times he avoided capture.
