A tragic ending to the search for two young girls from Loranger, who were discovered missing when their mother 35-year-old Callie Brunett was found deceased in their home Thursday morning. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis describes what happened when law enforcement located Daniel Callahan in Jackson, Mississippi.
“He had the victim’s car along with her alive and well six-year-old child and in a wooded area in a close proximity to the car the body of the four-year-old has been located,” said Travis.
The victim was three years old; she would have turned four in October.
Travis told reporters they believe the mother, was killed on Tuesday. Callahan then took her car and fled with her daughters. Callie Brunett’s parents reported her missing late Wednesday night, and her father found her body inside her home around 8 a.m. Thursday.
The car was spotted on camera in McComb, Mississippi, Thursday morning. In Jackson law enforcement was suspicious when they saw Callaghan pulling on doors in a neighborhood. Once they chased him down on foot, he took them to the car where they found six-year-old Erin Brunett alive. Callahan then led them to the body of three-year-old Jalie Brunett.
Travis said Callahan is not the father of the two girls, but he dated the mother off and on. While a motive has not been released, Travis hopes they’ll find out more once they can question him.
“See what we can get from him to tie this case all together and lock him down in it,” said Travis.
Travis asked for prayers for the family and said he couldn’t imagine the trauma six-year-old Erin had been through.
“She’s been through something that most of us hopefully never, ever get to experience. She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this. This is horrific,” said Travis.