Suspect arrested after woman killed, her two young daughters kidnapped and one killed, authorities say

Jackson, miss. – A Louisiana woman was found dead in her home Thursday and her two young daughters were kidnapped and found hours later in Mississippi – one dead, the other alive, police said.

A Louisiana resident who was dating the woman was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, in connection with the deaths and kidnappings, investigators said.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana identified the suspect as 36-year-old Daniel Callihan.

“He had the victim’s car along with her healthy six-year-old child,” said Deputy Bureau Chief Jimmy Travis.

The body of the other child, a 4-year-old, was found near the car in a wooded area in Jackson, Travis said. The office identified her as Erin Brunett.

CBS Jackson affiliate WJTV reported that city police Chief Joseph Wade identified Erin’s sister as 6-year-old Jalie Brunett. Wade said she was taken to a hospital for treatment. He said Callihan was caught after a chase.

Louisiana State Police issued an Amber Alert for the children after their mother, Callie Brunett, 35, was found dead Thursday in her home in Loranger, about 60 miles east of Baton Rouge. She had been reported missing after no one had spoken to her since Tuesday, Travis said. The cause of death was not immediately released.

WJTV quoted Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards as saying Callie Brunett’s body was found by her father on the floor of her bedroom in her locked trailer.

“This was simply an unspeakable crime,” Edwards said. “Our condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victims. It was a terrible tragedy.”

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said officers contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Unit about the case. He said small animal cages were discovered in the wooded area.

“He tried to kill the children by taking them into that wooded area,” Wade said of the suspect, adding: “This was a horrible, horribly tragic situation caused by the act of a coward.”