Escaped Murderer Slips Out of Search Area, Changes Appearance and Tries to Contact Former Co-Workers

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (AP) Authorities searched Monday for an escaped murderer who has eluded capture since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania prison a week and a half ago after they said over the weekend he slipped out of the search area, changed his appearance, stole a dairy delivery van and tried to contact acquaintances.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said Sunday that Danelo Souza Cavalcante stole the unlocked van, which had the keys inside, sometime Saturday night about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometers) from the northern perimeter of the search area where hundreds of law enforcement officers had been searching for him.

Bivens vowed to aggressively continue the search with the aid of federal, state, county and local resources and expressed confidence that the fugitive would eventually be recaptured.

This is a minor setback, he said. Well get him, its a matter of time."

Bailys Dairy said on its Facebook page that the delivery van was stolen between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday while we were still here working.