Signs of human trafficking found at scene where 4-year-old girl was found dead in Mississippi; suspect arrested • Unfiltered with Kiran

LORANGER — The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office confirms that one of the two missing girls at the center of a statewide Amber Alert has been found dead in Mississippi, while her older sister was found injured but alive after a chase. Earlier that day, her mother’s body was discovered in Loranger, Tangipahoa Parish.

The body of four-year-old Erin was found in a wooded area in Jackson, Mississippi. Her six-year-old sister Jalie was found safe and sound with suspect Daniel Callihan, according to TPSO.

Callihan, 36, of Amite, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi. Jimmy Davis of TPSO informed UWK that Callihan had previously dated the girls’ mother, Callie Brunett, and that her murder was therefore now being investigated as a domestic homicide.

Early Thursday morning, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards said Callie Brunett’s father found her dead in her home on N. Cooper Road in Loranger.

“Callie’s father went to the house around 8 a.m., forced entry into the locked trailer and found his daughter’s body on her bedroom floor,” said TPSO Deputy Chief Jimmy Davis.

Officers quickly discovered that her two daughters and her car were missing. An Amber Alert was issued for the two young girls on Thursday, and several tips were received at the TPSO office.

“After the Amber Alert was issued, we spotted the car on a camera south of Jackson, MS. We then learned that the car was at a McDonald’s in McComb on Wednesday, June 12th and later last night in Jackson, MS,” said Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis.

Travis said at this point, TPSO officers headed to Jackson, MS with assistance from several other agencies.

“He was in a neighborhood in Jackson, MS, pulling on doors when someone called police. An undercover officer in the area responded, saw the suspect, and began a pursuit. After the pursuit, the officer learned who the suspect was. After being taken into custody, his car was located and the 6-year-old was found inside unharmed. Her 4-year-old sister was found dead in an adjacent wooded area,” he added. “We have a six-year-old girl who has a rough life ahead of her because of what she experienced.”

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade tells UWK The stolen car, belonging to Brunett, was found behind 3950 Boozier Ave. in South Jackson, Mississippi around 3 p.m.

“Officers searched the area along with the US Marshals. Our Jackson police officers assisted in the search. At this point, they found the two young girls in the wooded area. One was injured but still alive, the four-year-old was dead,” said Police Chief Wade.

Chief Wade said there were signs of human trafficking at the scene of the arrest, but did not go into further detail, adding that the incident was under investigation.

“There were cages in a fenced area, but no animals, dogs, cats, wildlife were seen. So that’s very concerning. We have the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations on scene, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals, the Harris & Rankin County Sheriff’s Office and of course the Jackson PD, so we want to investigate the scene very thoroughly and that may take hours, maybe overnight, maybe days to make sure everything is properly investigated,” said Chief Wade. UWK.

“For me as a police chief and a father, this is absolutely horrific, heinous, disturbing, tragic and traumatic. It was very disturbing. I had the opportunity to go to the scene and see this baby who had lost his life and it was just absolutely overwhelming for me and all the officers who responded, but he will be held accountable for his actions,” the chief added.

According to TPSO, the two girls may have been missing for over 36 hours.

According to TPSO, multiple agencies are involved in the investigation, including the FBI, since the crime occurred across state lines. Callihan faces multiple charges in both Louisiana and Mississippi, including murder and aggravated kidnapping, but the exact charges have not yet been announced.

“He brought the kidnapped children across state lines, which makes this a federal offense,” the police chief added.

This is a developing story. Check back often for new information.

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