Louisiana grand jury indicts duo on murder, kidnapping charges in mother-daughter deaths: report
By
Greg Wehner Fox News
Published
June 20, 2024 8:11pm EDT
2 Louisiana girls abducted, 1 found dead
Fox News’ Madison Scarpino reports that the 4-year-old girl was found dead in Mississippi and her 6-year-old sister was found alive.
A man and woman were indicted Thursday on murder and kidnapping charges after being accused of killing a Louisiana mother and abducting her two daughters, one of whom was also killed, according to reports.
FOX 8 in New Orleans reported that a Tangipahoa Parish grand jury returned an indictment against 36-year-old Daniel Callihan, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder and single counts of aggravated kidnapping and second-degree kidnapping.
The grand jury also indicted 32-year-old Victoria Cox on single counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
First-degree murder carries a penalty in Louisiana of life in prison, or death.
Daniel Callihan, 36, is arrested on June 13 in Jackson, Miss. (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office)
District Attorney Scott Perrilloux did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment and inquiry on whether he plans to seek capital punishment.
The station reported that the DA said his office has not decided if it will seek the death penalty, adding that he plans to consult with family members and for the investigations among other agencies to unfold before making that decision.
“These things don’t happen like this very often here, it’s an extremely significant matter. I would expect it’s devastating, I know it’s devastating to the family,” Perrilloux said.
Victoria Cox is charged in the murders of Callie Brunett and Brunett’s 4-year-old daughter, Erin. (Jackson Police Department)
The DA also said he expects federal prosecutors to build a case against the duo in Mississippi.
“First of all, it originated here, it involves local people here,” Perrilloux said. “I feel strongly that this community deserves the right to have it ultimately resolved and decided here.”
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office announced on social media that officers arrested Callihan on June 13.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana shared on social media that officers arrested Daniel Callihan, 36, on June 13 for allegedly “committing brutal and heinous acts of violence” in the murders of Callie Brunett, 35, and her daughter, Erin, 4. (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Officers said that Callihan “committed brutal and heinous acts of violence” in the murders of Callie Brunett, 35, and her 4-year-old daughter, Erin.
In a press conference last week, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said an Amber Alert was first issued on June 13 for the two trafficked children.
Four-year-old Erin was found dead in the woods, authorities said.
A Louisiana woman was found dead in her home by police, and one of her two young daughters who was kidnapped, was found dead in the woods hours later. (WVUE)
“They located a deceased child in the woods,” Wade said. “We suspect that is one of the children that he had in his possession, in his possession illegally, that he had taken away from Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.”
The other abducted child, 6-year-old Jalie, was found injured in the woods and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Wade shared officers were still trying to determine the 4-year-old’s “manner of death.”
Callihan allegedly confessed to killing the child and requested the death penalty after being apprehended, stating he had “no reason for what I did,” the station reported.
Cox’s involvement in the murders and crimes is still unclear.
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @GregWehner.
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