Jackson police chief announces additional charges in fatal kidnapping case
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
JACKSON, Miss. (WGNO) — The police chief in Jackson, Mississippi, is announcing an additional charge in the Loranger kidnappings in which the youngest of two sisters was killed.
A news conference was on held Monday, June 17. Authorities arrested 36-year-old Daniel Callihan and his alleged accomplice, 32-year-old Victoria Cox, last week for allegedly kidnapping Jalie Brunett, 6, and her 3-year-old sister, Erin Brunett, and killing Erin. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade says the pair will be facing multiple charges.
“The Jackson Police Department has charged both of these individuals with capital murder and sexual battery,” said Wade.
The chief didn’t elaborate on the sexual battery charges.
“As you do your research as to what entails sexual battery, then you will be able to connect the dots, but based on our collaborative investigation and based on his statements, we felt that was the appropriate charge,” Wade said.
Meanwhile, the Tangipahoa Parish Coroner’s Office has released the official cause of death of the children’s mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett.
It was revealed that Callie’s preliminary cause of death was listed as “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to Coroner Rick Foster.
He added that there were “multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, chest abdomen and back,” along with what appeared to be “defensive wounds to her arms.”
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The Hinds County coroner performing Erin’s autopsy announced Tuesday, June 18 that her cause of death was listed as asphyxiation due to suffocation.
“I would assume, and this is clearly an assumption, that she possibly died from asphyxiation or suffocation, but we would have to wait on the medical examiner before releasing that information,” said Wade. “I did not see any gunshot wounds or anything like that.”
Wade also talked more about why investigators believe human trafficking may be a factor in the case.
“I observed small cages myself, these small wiring enclosures, and there were other things that led us to believe that it was possibly a location that human trafficking could happen or transpire,” explained Wade.
Callihan and Cox are also facing charges in Tangipahoa Parish, as well as federal charges.
“I think if there’s a case that would definitely rise to the level of the death penalty, this should be it because I still have imprinted in my head the sight of that 3-year-old in the woods dead,” Wade said.
Callie was found dead in the bedroom of her Loranger home on Thursday, June 13. Additionally, an Amber Alert was issued for her two children.
The search for Jalie and Erin led deputies to Jackson, Mississippi, where they found Callihan, Jalie and the body of Erin in a wooded area.
Their family remembers Erin as “a little fireball” who was “sweet and full of life and had a special bond with her big sister Jalie. They add that Callie and her daughters were “a couple of peas in a pod and that Hhr daughters looked up to her and loved her so much.”
The funeral for Callie and Erin Brunett will be held on Thursday, June 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home 2000 N. Morrison Boulevard in Hammond.
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