One of two missing Louisiana girls found dead in Jackson after their mother was 'brutally killed'; suspect arrested

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – One of two girls reported missing in Louisiana has been found dead in Jackson.

An Amber Alert was issued for 4-year-old Erin and 6-year-old daughter Jalie on Thursday after their mother, Callie Brunett, was missing for more than 24 hours before being found “brutally” killed in her home in North Cooper Road in Loranger, Louisiana.

Thursday afternoon, the body of a young girl believed to be Erin was found in the woods along Boozier Drive. Jalie was taken to hospital for treatment.

“We have a very active scene here at the moment. Very traumatic scene,” Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said. “Four-year-old child dies, but suspect is in police custody.”

The circumstances of the child's death have not been determined.

The suspect, according to Wade, is Daniel Callihan. The 36-year-old man was arrested by US Marshals after leading authorities on a chase.

Jackson police officers were called to the 3900 block of Boozier around 2:35 p.m. to assist marshals in finding the suspect after Callihan's vehicle was spotted.

“After a short chase, they made contact with him and he is now in custody,” Wade said. “Mr. Callihan is also a suspect in a homicide that occurred in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

Wade thanked the many agencies that assisted, including the Marshals, the FBI Jackson Field Office, the Hinds County Sheriff's Department, the Rankin County Sheriff's Department, the Byram Police Department and officials from the parish of Tangipahoa.

“If you know of anything that happened here in Boozier, please contact the Jackson Police Department,” he said. “We contacted the MBI Human Trafficking Division, as well as the Hinds County Human Trafficking Division. We also have our Juvenile Division on site.

“What it looks like, it may be a place where there has been human trafficking. We see cages – cages for small animals. [It’s] very, very disturbing for me as a police chief and as a father, to witness and see what I just saw,” he said. “We are asking for your prayers and support, and anyone with information about what happened here today, please contact the Jackson Police Department, the U.S. Marshals or [the] Jackson F.B.I.

Jackson police can be contacted at (601) 960-1234. You can also call Crime Stoppers (601) 355-8477.

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