Months after his escape from Chester County Prison in Pocopson Township, Pennsylvania, convicted killer Danilo Cavalcante walked into a courtroom to appear in public for the first time since his capture.
Cavalcante -- in an orange prison jumpsuit with his hair long and curly and his hands and feet shackled -- was led by several members of law enforcement into the courthouse Friday, Feb. 2, 2024.
Cavalcante didn't answer any questions shouted at him by gathered reporters.
Get top local stories in Philly delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC Philadelphia's News Headlines newsletter.
NBC10's Brian Sheehan said that he shook his head "no" when asked if he had anything to say and that Cavalcante looked defeated as he was led into the courtroom.
Friday's preliminary hearing on escape, burglary and related charges stemming from his two weeks on the run took place in front of a magistrate judge.
Cavalcante escaped in late August after being convicted of stabbing and killing Deborah Brandao.
Cavalcante would spend two weeks on the run -- putting various parts of Chester County on edge throughout early September before being recaptured on Sept. 13, 2023, and taken to another prison where he has remained jailed without bail.
The daring escape and manhunt captured headlines far beyond the Philadelphia region.
NBC10's Brain Sheehan and Brenna Weick reported on what occurred in the courtroom during the 2-1/2-hour hearing Friday. The prosecution called residents who said they came in contact with the escapee and claimed to have seen Cavalcante on the property or in their homes to the witness stand.
One homeowner said he learned weeks after his interaction with Cavalcante that the escapee stole his daughter's sleeping bag from his home.
Lawrence Hammond was among the eight Chester County homeowners who told the court he was prepared if Cavalcante came onto his property.
He testified that he was working in his garage around 10 p.m. on the night of Sept. 11 when he spotted Cavalcante in the process of stealing his .22 Caliber rifle. Hammond told the court that he repeatedly shouted, "Don't do it."
But, he said Cavalcante grabbed the firearm anyway and took off running.
That is when Hammond grabbed his pistol and fired four shots at the escaped inmate.
When asked by the prosecution if he hit Cavalcante, Hammond replied, "I thought I did, but obviously I didn't."
Another witness who testified on Friday was Ryan Drummond, of West Chester.
Drummond said he and his family were asleep around 11:45 p.m. just days after Cavalcante escaped when he was woken up by a noise.
Drummond told the court that he went into the hallway and turned on the lights. But then, he testified that it was seconds later when "Someone downstairs flicked it on and off to signify 'yes, I'm in the house.'"
Lindsay Yates and her children live in what was the search area and told NBC10 outside of the courtroom that they listened for days as helicopters circled above them.
"We were just really concerned about it at the time and we were hoping it wouldn't happen again," Yates said.
Yates and her kids say the entire incident gave them PTSD, so the family decided to sit in on today's preliminary hearing to look the shackled Cavalcante in the eyes as he was surrounded by armed guards.
"This kind of puts closure to the whole scenario and it did for me. We saw him walk in and it's a small room," she explained. "I was afraid to have a heart attack."
A translator was on hand speaking to Cavalcante -- who speaks Portuguese.
Neither prosecutors nor Cavalcante's defense team spoke following the hearing.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
