Daniel Wayne Callihan, a 37-year-old resident of Amite, Louisiana, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of kidnapping resulting in death and transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk. Callihan has been held in federal custody since being charged by complaint on June 14, 2024.
“Today’s resolution ensures that Daniel Wayne Callihan, will be held accountable for his heinous and atrocious crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. “This successful prosecution is the result of the significant collaboration by local, state, and federal agencies across Louisiana and Mississippi. Their collective dedication and hard work ensured that Mr. Callihan will now face justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office stated, "The FBI is committed to relentlessly pursuing violent predators and our hearts go out to the families of these victims. Every law enforcement partner who worked on this case was determined to deliver justice for the Brunett family and the people of Tangipahoa Parish. The FBI thanks the U.S. Marshals Service, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson Police Department for their efforts to make sure Daniel Callihan will never do anything like this again."
Court documents reveal that on or about June 12, 2024, Callihan was inside a Loranger, Louisiana residence where he stabbed an adult woman more than fifty times before killing her. He then kidnapped her two daughters—ages four and six—and drove them from Louisiana to McComb, Mississippi using the victim's vehicle.
Callihan later returned with both children to Amite before picking up another individual identified as Co-Conspirator 1. Together they traveled to a residence in Jackson, Mississippi.
On either June 12 or early June 13, Callihan and Co-Conspirator 1 engaged in sexual battery with one of the minors. At the time he transported both children from Louisiana to Mississippi, Callihan intended for one child to be subjected to criminal sexual activity under laws applicable in both states.
On June 13 at the Jackson property, Callihan suffocated one of the minors—the four-year-old girl—to death.
After authorities discovered the body of Adult Victim 1 later that day, law enforcement initiated an investigation which led them to locate both Callihan and the vehicle used during these events. A search at Boozier Drive uncovered a pit containing both Minor Victim 1’s body and Minor Victim 2.
Callihan admitted after waiving his Miranda rights that he killed Adult Victim 1 and kidnapped both children; he also confessed that he and Co-Conspirator 1 transported them across state lines where they committed sexual battery on Minor Victim 2 and caused Minor Victim 1’s death by suffocation. These admissions were corroborated by statements from Co-Conspirator 1.
Under terms agreed upon as part of his guilty plea—pending acceptance by Judge Africk—the government will not seek the death penalty on Count One (kidnapping resulting in death). For this count alone, Callihan faces mandatory life imprisonment plus potential fines up to $250,000 and special assessment fees; Count Two carries a minimum ten-year sentence up to life imprisonment along with similar financial penalties. Each count also includes supervised release ranging from five years up to life as well as sex offender registration requirements.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2025. Sentences may run concurrently or consecutively with each other or with sentences imposed in other jurisdictions including pending cases in Louisiana’s 21st Judicial District Court (State v. Callihan) and Hinds County Circuit Court (Mississippi).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended multiple agencies involved in investigating this matter—including federal investigators as well as state-level law enforcement offices—and highlighted contributions from prosecutors Jordan Ginsberg (Chief of Public Integrity Unit) and Sarah Dawkins (Violent Crime Unit).
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood—a Department of Justice initiative started in May 2006 aimed at combating child exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal prosecutors and investigative agencies nationwide.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood: http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov
