1 of 2 missing children found dead after mother's 'brutal' murder; suspect arrested

LORANGER, La. (WVUE/Gray News) – Authorities in Louisiana say one of two missing children was found dead while the other was found alive and well.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office reported the discovery of the body of 3-year-old Erin Brunett on Thursday afternoon. Her 6-year-old sister, Jalie Brunett, was found safe. The suspect, Daniel Callihan, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi.

Police found the 6-year-old living in Mississippi, with Callihan, authorities said. Erin's body was located just meters from where her sister was found alive.

She was taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Her grandparents are on their way to Jackson to be with her.

“You don’t want to see that as a police chief; you don’t want to see that as a father,” said Chief Joseph Wade of the Jackson Police Department. “A coward took this child from his family.”

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department are also involved in the investigation.

Louisiana State Police issued an Amber Alert for the two children after finding their mother dead early Thursday morning.

According to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, Callie Brunett, 35, was missing for more than 24 hours before she was found “brutally” murdered in her home on North Cooper Road. His death is being investigated as a homicide.

Her two young children, Jalie, 6, and Erin, 3, were “missing,” Sheriff Daniel Edwards said.

Edwards said Brunett was reported missing Tuesday and because her car was not at her home, her family did not believe she was home. Thursday morning, her father entered her home and discovered her body and her children missing.

The circumstances of Brunett's death have not been released, but Edwards said there was “blood everywhere.”

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