‘I did it’: Man accused of killing mother, 4-year-old child says he deserves death penalty

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT/Gray News) - A man facing charges in the abduction of two Louisiana children and killing one says he’s admitted to his crimes to authorities and deserves death.

Daniel Callihan is being charged with capital murder and sexual battery, a day after he was arrested for abducting two girls from Louisiana and bringing them across state lines into Mississippi.

An alleged accomplice in Thursday’s killings, Victoria Cox, was also arrested, according to Mississippi police.

Callihan was led out of Jackson police headquarters on Friday and answered questions from reporters while he was being taken to a police car.

“I did it,” Callihan said. “I have no reason for what I did. All I know is I was sober and only on Lexapro [an antidepressant], and off Lexapro, and I have also been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder.”

Callihan allegedly killed a 4-year-old girl named Erin with her 6-year-old sister, Jalie, being found alive in the woods on Thursday where she was taken for medical treatment.

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade described the scene as “horrible” and “tragic.” He said he believes the area where the girls were found may have been linked to human trafficking.

Callihan is also believed to have killed the girls’ mother, Callie Brunett, at their home in Loranger, Louisiana, about three hours away from where the children were found.

“I have told them everything I did, and I have agreed to not fight it,” he said, as he was being strapped into the back of a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy’s vehicle. “For what I did, lethal injection is the easiest thing for me.”

The chief said the crime scene would be meticulously investigated with those found responsible being prosecuted for such an act.

The FBI said its team has taken the lead in the investigation.

Copyright 2024 WLBT via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.