Daniel Wayne Callihan of Amite Sentenced to Consecutive Life Sentences

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Daniel Wayne Callihan, age 38 and a resident of Amite, Louisiana, was sentenced Wednesday (November 19, 2025) by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to life in prison for each count of conviction after previously pleading guilty in federal court to a two-count superseding indictment charging him with kidnapping resulting in death (Count 1) and transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity (Count Two). Callihan was also previously charged, pleaded guilty, and sentenced in matters prosecuted by law enforcement authorities in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, and Hinds County, Mississippi. Judge Africk ordered Callihan's life sentences to be served consecutively with each other and consecutive to the sentences imposed in Hinds County, Mississippi, and the 21st Judicial District (Louisiana).

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(Adult Victim 1 referred to below is identified elsewhere as 35-year-old Callie Brunett; Minor Victim 1 as 4-year-old Erin; Minor Victim 2 as 6-year-old Jalie. No image of Callie Brunett is available. Images of Erin and Jalie is pictured left)

According to court documents, on or about June 12, 2024, Callihan was present inside the Loranger, Louisiana residence of Adult Victim 1, who lived with her two daughters, Minor Victim 1 (a four-year-old female) and Minor Victim 2 (a six-year-old female). While present in the residence, Callihan stabbed Adult Victim 1 more than fifty times, resulting in her death. After killing Adult Victim 1, Callihan kidnapped Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 using Adult Victim 1’s automobile, and drove to McComb, Mississippi.

Callihan, with Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 still in the car, then returned to Amite Louisiana, where he picked up Co-Conspirator 1. Callihan then drove Adult Victim 1’s car to a residence in Jackson, Mississippi.

On either the evening of June 12, 2023, or early on June 13, 2024, Callihan and Co-Conspirator 1 engaged in sexual battery with Minor Victim 2. Callihan intended that Minor Victim 2 would engage in criminal sexual activity at the time he transported Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 from Louisiana to Mississippi.

Thereafter, on June 13, 2024, Callihan purposely suffocated Minor Victim 1 to death by holding Minor Victim 1 closely against his chest.

Later on June 13, 2024, after Adult Victim 1’s body was discovered, federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities began an investigation. The investigation determined the location of both Callihan and Adult Victim 1’s car. A search led to a pit in Jackson, Mississippi where officers discovered the bodies of Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 together in the pit.

After being taken into custody and waiving his Miranda rights, Callihan admitted to stabbing Adult Victim 1 to death and kidnapping Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 in Adult Victim 1’s vehicle. Callihan further admitted that he and Co-Conspirator 1 transported Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 to Mississippi, where he and Co-Conspirator 1 committed sexual battery on Minor Victim 2 and he smothered Minor Victim 1 to death. Callihan ’s admission that he and Co-Conspirator 1 committed sexual battery on Minor Victim 2 was corroborated in a voluntary, post-Miranda statement Co-Conspirator 1 made to law enforcement authorities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the great support provided by the United States Marshals Service, the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson (Mississippi) Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson also commended the exceptional work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana Victim/Witness Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Sarah Dawkins, of the Violent Crime Unit, were in charge of the prosecution.