Federal court hearing set for man accused in Louisiana abduction case

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – According to court documents, Daniel Callihan, 36, is expected to appear in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi for his preliminary and detention hearing on June 25, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.

Callihan is suspected of killing 35-year-old Callie Brunett in Loranger, Louisiana, on Thursday, June 13. Tangipahoa Parish Coroner Rick Foster said Callie Brunett died of “multiple sharp force injuries.” He said there were multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, chest, abdomen and back. Foster also said Brunett had what appeared to be defensive wounds to her arms.

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Callie Brunett was found dead by her father on the floor of her bedroom inside her locked mobile home on North Cooper Road after having been reported missing by her parents 24 hours earlier.

Investigators told the Associated Press that Callihan and Callie Brunett had dated.

Callihan and Victoria Cox, 32, were both arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, in connection to the abduction of the two girls and the death of one of them. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade announced on Monday, June 17 that Callihan had implicated Cox in the case.

Both Callihan and Cox were charged with capital murder and sexual battery in Mississippi. They’re facing additional charges in Tangipahoa Parish, as well as federal charges.

Cox made her initially appearance in court on Monday, June 17. She was denied bond on the capital murder charge, and she received a $500,000 bond on the sexual battery charge.

According to Wade, 3-year-old Erin Brunett was found deceased in a wooded area off of Boozier Drive on Thursday, June 13. Her sister, 6-year-old Jalie Brunett, was taken to a Jackson hospital for treatment.

The Hinds County coroner said Erin Brunett died from asphyxiation due to suffocation.

The Jackson police chief said there was evidence of possible human trafficking at the location on Boozier Drive, including small animal cages. Wade said Jackson police have contacted the Human Trafficking Divisions of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) and Hinds County to assess the scene. He also said the crime scene in Jackson was processed for three days.

Authorities said the Amber Alert was issued for the two girls, who were abducted after their mother was killed in Loranger. Wade said he did not believe Callihan was the father of the two children.

Anyone with additional information about the incident can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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