Loranger, Louisiana – Authorities have called off the search for two young girls who were abducted following the murder of their mother after a heartbreaking discovery. The body of 4-year-old Erin Brunett was found, while her sister, 6-year-old Jalie, was found alive, officials announced at a press conference. The girls had been missing since Tuesday when their mother, Callie Brunett, was found brutally murdered in her bedroom.
During the press conference, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards expressed the tragic nature of the situation, stating that Erin’s death was a horrible and senseless act. The suspect, identified as Daniel Callihan, was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi in connection to the abduction and murder. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade addressed the press, describing the anguish of seeing an innocent child lose her life.
Thankfully, Jalie was found alive inside the vehicle driven by Callihan. She was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Erin’s body was found only a few yards away from where her sister was discovered in a wooded area. The circumstances surrounding Callie Brunett’s death have not been disclosed by authorities, but Sheriff Edwards mentioned that there was evidence of blood everywhere.
The investigation has received assistance from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department. Earlier that day, an Amber Alert had been issued for the missing girls, who were last seen at their home in Loranger on Thursday morning. Police believe that a domestic violence incident escalated into the tragic outcome of the mother’s murder and the girls’ abduction.
This heartbreaking case has left the community in shock and mourning. The search for justice continues as investigators work to piece together the events leading up to this devastating loss. VTAG 085, #JusticeForBrunett