(NewsNation) — Danelo Cavalcante, the inmate who escaped from a suburban Philadelphia prison last week, “crab-walked” up a wall and through razor wire in order to break out, officials said Wednesday.
The prison’s acting warden, Howard Holland, said there was a guard in the observation tower at the time. That guard has since been put on administrative leave, Holland said during a news conference.
Security footage shows Cavalcante standing in a passageway, bracing his hands against one wall and his feet against another before climbing out of camera range.
His escape was similar to that of another inmate, Igor Bolte, from May, Holland said. Bolte was caught minutes after he escaped May 19, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Prison employees added the razor wire after Bolte was apprehended.
“While we believe the security measures we had in place were sufficient, they’ve proven otherwise, and we will move quickly to enhance our security measures,” Holland said.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office will be conducting a thorough criminal investigation into the escape, Holland added.
Authorities have moved and expanded the search area for Cavalcante as he has been spotted five times since he escaped from Chester County Prison.
Cavalcante, 34, was most recently spotted Monday night at Longwood Gardens, where surveillance video captured him walking through the area with a duffel bag, backpack and hooded sweatshirt.
That sighting led officials to move the search area farther south after they determined Cavalcante had likely slipped through the original perimeter.
The expanded search spurred two nearby school districts to cancel classes on Tuesday “out of an abundance of caution.”
“You’re dealing with someone who’s desperate and who doesn’t want to be caught,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Geroge Bivens. “He’s a bad guy, he needs to be in custody. And we’re determined to capture him.”
Authorities urged residents to keep their homes and vehicles locked. They also asked residents to check the homes of vacationing neighbors and look out for missing cars, bicycles or any other mode of transportation Cavalcante could use to aid his flight.
Residents of Pocopson Township are on edge as hundreds of law enforcement officials scour through the densely wooded area. They’re actively pursuing leads, including reports of break-ins and stolen food.
Ryan Drummond, speaking to a local news outlet, shared his belief that Cavalcante had taken refuge in his home. He recounted hearing an intruder inside his home, but when he rushed downstairs and dialed 911, the intruder had already made their escape.
As law enforcement tightens its pursuit of the escaped inmate, there is optimism Cavalcante will make a mistake and eventually surrender.
Authorities have announced a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to Cavalcante’s arrest.
Cavalcante received a life sentence last month after being convicted in the killing of his ex-girlfriend, Deborah Brandao. Prosecutors say he killed her to stop her from telling police that he’s wanted in a 2017 killing in his native Brazil.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.