Man Who Abducted and Killed 4-Year-Old Girl, Pleads Guilty
A 37-year-old Louisiana man accused of killing a mother in her mobile home, kidnapping her two young daughters, and killing one of them will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to two federal…
A 37-year-old ⚜️Louisiana man accused of killing a mother in her mobile home, 🚨Kidnapping her two young daughters, and killing one of them will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty to two federal charges, according to Law & Crime.
Daniel Callihan pleaded guilty Wednesday to 🚨Kidnapping resulting in death and transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of ⚜️Louisiana announced.
The first charge carries a mandatory life sentence, while the second carries 10 years to life. He could also be fined up to $500,000. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.
His girlfriend and alleged co-conspirator, Victoria Cox, has been indicted in Mississippi on a capital murder charge and may still face the death penalty.
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The case began in June 2024, when Callie Brunett, 35, was found dead in her locked Loranger,
⚜️Louisiana
, mobile home a day after being reported missing. She had more than 50 stab wounds to her head, neck, chest, abdomen, and back. Her two daughters, ages 4 and 6, were missing.
Prosecutors said that on June 12, 2024, Callihan killed Brunett, kidnapped both girls in her car, picked up Cox, then crossed into Mississippi, bringing them to a residence on Boozier Drive in Jackson. Callihan and Brunett had previously dated.
Authorities said Callihan and Cox “engaged in sexual battery” with the 6-year-old. Callihan then “purposely suffocated to death by holding Minor Victim 1 closely against his chest.” After his arrest, Callihan confessed to killing Brunett and Erin and to sexually assaulting Erin’s sister.
On July 13, 2024, police found Erin’s body in a wooded area near the Mississippi home. Her sister was found alive and taken to the hospital.
Law enforcement said the scene suggested possible ⛓️Human Trafficking. “We see cages, small animal cages,” Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said. “This is very, very disturbing to me as a police chief and as a father to witness and see what I saw.”
After his arrest, Callihan confessed to reporters while in handcuffs and wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit. He gave no motive, said he wanted the death penalty, and claimed mental health issues.
“Unfortunately, on Lexapro, sober, no drugs in my system, I did,” he said of the girl’s killing. “I have no reason for what I did. All I want to say is that I was sober and only on Lexapro — and off Lexapro — and I’m also diagnosed with borderline multiple personality disorder.”
“For what I did, lethal injection is the easiest thing for me,” he added.
