A man from Amite, Louisiana, Daniel Wayne Callihan, was sentenced to consecutive life terms in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to kidnapping resulting in death and transporting a minor across state lines for criminal sexual activity. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Lance M. Africk. In addition to the prison sentences, Callihan was ordered to pay $260,000 in restitution to the victims' family and a mandatory special assessment fee of $200.
Callihan had previously been charged, pleaded guilty, and sentenced on related matters in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, and Hinds County, Mississippi. Judge Africk ordered that the federal life sentences be served consecutively with each other and also consecutively to those imposed by state courts in both jurisdictions.
According to court documents, on or about June 12, 2024, Callihan entered the Loranger, Louisiana home of an adult victim who lived with her two daughters—ages four and six. While there, he stabbed the adult victim more than fifty times. He then kidnapped both children using the victim's car and drove them to McComb, Mississippi.
Callihan later returned with the children to Amite before picking up a co-conspirator and driving together to Jackson, Mississippi. Between the evening of June 12 and early June 13, Callihan and his co-conspirator committed sexual battery against one of the minors.
The indictment stated that during this period Callihan intended for one of the minors to engage in criminal sexual acts that violated laws in both Louisiana and Mississippi.
On June 13 at a residence on Boozier Drive in Jackson, Mississippi, Callihan suffocated the four-year-old child. After discovery of the adult victim’s body later that day prompted an investigation by federal and local authorities—which led them to locate Callihan as well as recover both children from a pit at the Jackson property; one deceased.
After being taken into custody and waiving his Miranda rights, "Callihan admitted to stabbing Adult Victim 1 to death and kidnapping Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 in Adult Victim 1’s vehicle. CALLIHAN further admitted that he and Co-Conspirator 1 transported Minor Victim 1 and Minor Victim 2 to Mississippi, where he and Co-Conspirator 1 committed sexual battery on Minor Victim 2 and he smothered Minor Victim 1 to death." This admission was corroborated by a voluntary statement from his co-conspirator.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson commended several agencies for their involvement: "Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the great support provided by the United States Marshals Service, the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office, the Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson (Mississippi) Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson also commended the exceptional work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of Louisiana Victim/Witness Unit."
Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg (Chief of Public Integrity Unit) and Sarah Dawkins (Violent Crime Unit) prosecuted this case.
The prosecution was part of Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative started by the Department of Justice aimed at combating child exploitation through coordinated efforts among federal prosecutors along with state/local law enforcement partners.
