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Loranger Amber Alert leads to the arrest of Daniel Callihan

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A Louisiana mother is dead with her child and her other daughter is recovering in the hospital after she was abducted as a result of a domestic incident, according to police. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating the death of Callie Brunett, 35, of Loranger, and the disappearance of her two children, Jalie, 6, and Erin, 3, on Thursday morning. The abduction prompted a statewide Amber Alert and ultimately ended tragically in Jackson, Mississippi. Here’s what we know about the case. Callie Brunett’s final hours: Brunett’s father told the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office he last spoke to his daughter Tuesday night. According to Sheriff Daniel Edwards, the father said everything was fine. He said Brunett took out the trash and did not mention she was in danger. On Wednesday, the father said he had not been able to reach Brunett and noticed she was not home. He also reported her car missing. Brunett’s father reported Callie missing to the sheriff’s office on Wednesday night, but did not enter her trailer. On Thursday morning, Brunett’s father found her bloodied body on the floor of her bedroom in their trailer. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office subsequently released information on the search for Brunett’s daughters to the media. Amber Alert issued: At around 12:20 p.m., an Amber Alert was issued by the Louisiana State Police Department for the two missing girls. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office also began searching the woods with tracking dogs and utilized a helicopter. Shortly after the Amber Alert was issued, Sheriff Edwards provided an update on the case. He said at least 36 hours had passed between the family’s last conversation with Brunett and realizing the children were missing. Edwards said they were unsure if the girls were still in the state and stressed that residents should call if they had any information on their whereabouts. Mississippi tip-off: Sheriff Edwards said officers were notified of a possible sighting of Brunett’s car in McComb, Mississippi. Officers were later told that a license plate reader in Jackson had picked up Callie’s car somewhere in Jackson, Mississippi. Edwards said officers were then dispatched to Jackson to investigate. Suspect arrested: Jackson authorities responded to a suspicious person report after a man was observed attempting to enter several homes by checking doorknobs. When officers arrived at the scene, a man named Daniel Callihan led officers on a chase. Shortly afterward, Callihan was arrested by U.S. Marshals. Edwards said Callihan led officers to a wooded area where Jalie Brunett was found alive in her mother’s car. Callihan then led officers to the body of Erin Brunett, who was found in a wooded area near Callie’s car. Jalie was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A Tangipahoa officer drove her grandparents to Jackson to be with her. Suspect’s connection to family: Edwards said Callihan is a resident of Tangipahoa Parish. Edwards said Callihan had a relationship with Callie and they believe he is connected to her murder. Callihan said his officers had not yet interviewed him at the time the girls were discovered. Edwards also did not disclose a motive. Possible human trafficking: Jackson police held a news conference Thursday following the discovery of the girls and Callihan’s arrest. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said he contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Unit after arriving at the scene. “Based on the crime scene and what it looks like, this could be the location where human trafficking occurred,” Wade said. “We see cages, small animal cages. For me as a police chief and a father to witness this and see what I saw is very, very disturbing.” Shortly after news of the possible human trafficking location, Sheriff Edwards said the case had been turned over to the FBI. What’s next? It’s unclear when Callihan will be extradited to Louisiana. He is expected to face charges in Tangipahoa Parish in connection with Brunett’s death. Callihan is currently in custody in Mississippi for killing Erin and for the FBI investigation related to the possible human trafficking website. It’s possible Callihan will make his first court appearance in Jackson on Friday. It’s unknown if Jalie is still in the hospital or if she has been released. WDSU will be following this story closely. Stay tuned to WDSU.com for updates. Don’t see the timeline below? Click here. ==

A Louisiana mother is dead along with her child and her other daughter is recovering in the hospital after police say she was kidnapped following a domestic incident.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating the death of 35-year-old Callie Brunett of Loranger and the disappearance of her two children, Jalie, 6, and Erin, 3, Thursday morning.

The kidnapping prompted a nationwide Amber Alert and ultimately ended tragically in Jackson, Mississippi.

Here’s what we know about the case.

Callie Brunett’s final hours:

Brunett’s father told the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office that he last spoke to his daughter Tuesday evening.

According to Sheriff Daniel Edwards, the father said everything was fine. He said Brunett took out the trash and did not mention that he was in danger.

On Wednesday, the father said he had been unable to reach Brunett and noticed she was not home. He also reported that her car was missing.

Callie Brunett'

Brunett’s father reported Callie missing to the sheriff’s office Wednesday evening, but did not enter her trailer.

On Thursday morning, Brunett’s father found her blood-soaked body on the floor of her bedroom in her trailer.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office subsequently released information about the search for Brunett’s daughters to the media.

Amber alert issued:

At around 12:20 p.m., the Louisiana State Police Department issued an Amber Alert for the two missing girls.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office also began searching the woods with police dogs and also deployed a helicopter.

Shortly after the Amber Alert was issued, Sheriff Edwards provided an update on the case.

Louisiana: Child killed, sister found in Mississippi

He said at least 36 hours had passed between the family’s last conversation with Brunett and the realization that the children were missing.

Edwards said they were not sure if the girls were still in the state and stressed that residents should call with any information about their whereabouts.

Tip in Mississippi:

Sheriff Edwards said officers were notified of a possible sighting of Brunett’s car in McComb, Mississippi.

Officers were later informed that a license plate reader in Jackson had picked up Callie’s car somewhere in Jackson, Mississippi.

Edwards said officers were then sent to Jackson to investigate.

Suspect arrested:

Jackson authorities responded to a suspicious person report after a man was observed attempting to enter several homes by checking the doorknobs.

When officers arrived at the scene, a man named Daniel Callihan led officers on a chase.

Soon after, Callihan was taken into custody by US Marshals.

Daniel Callahan

Hearst ownerJackson Police

Edwards said Callihan led officers to a wooded area where Jalie Brunett was found alive in her mother’s car.

Callihan then led officers to the body of Erin Brunett, which was found in a wooded area near Callie’s car.

Jalie was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. A Tangipahoa officer drove her grandparents to Jackson to be with her.

Suspect’s connection to family:

According to Edwards, Callihan is a resident of Tangipahoa Parish.

Edwards said Callihan had a relationship with Callie and they believe he is connected to her murder.

Callihan said his officers had not yet interviewed him at the time the girls were found.

Edwards also did not reveal a motive.

Possible human trafficking:

The Jackson Police Department held a press conference Thursday following the discovery of the girls and the arrest of Callihan.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said he contacted the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s Human Trafficking Unit after arriving at the scene.

“Based on the crime scene and the way it looks, this could be a place where human trafficking took place,” Wade said. “We see cages, small animal cages. For me as a police chief and a father, it’s very, very disturbing to witness what I saw.”

Shortly after the possible human trafficking site became known, Sheriff Edwards said the case had been turned over to the FBI.

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What’s next?

It is unclear when Callihan will be extradited to Louisiana.

He is expected to stand trial in Tangipahoa Parish for Brunett’s death.

Callihan is currently in custody in connection with Erin’s death and the FBI investigation into the possible human trafficking website in Mississippi.

It is possible that Callihan will make his first court appearance in Jackson on Friday in connection with this case.

It is not known whether Jalie is still in the hospital or whether she has been released.

WDSU will be following this story closely. Stay tuned to WDSU.com for updates.

Don’t see the timeline below? Click here.

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