Daniel Callihan
| Daniel Callihan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Daniel Wayne Callihan September 13, 1987 United States |
| 🏡 Residence | Amite, Louisiana |
| 🏳️ Nationality | American |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Brunett kidnappings and murders |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Criminal status | Awaiting trial |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Amber Boyd Callihan (m. 2008; div. 2010) |
| 👴 👵 Parent(s) | Kelly Wayne Drott (father) |
| 👪 Relatives | Dixie Hemphill (half-sister) |
Daniel Wayne Callihan (/ˈkæləhæn/; born September 13, 1987) is an Americankidnapper, murderer, registered sex offender, and carjacker who was arrested and charged for the Brunett kidnappings and murders that occured from June 12 to June 13 in 2024. He murdered two females in 2024, which resulted into him facing federal charges.
Although he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia,[2] he was found competent to stand trial in the ongoing legal proceedings related to the murders of Callie Brunett and her daughter, Erin.
Early life
Childhood
Daniel Wayne Callihan was born on September 13, 1987 in the United States. He was the oldest of three half-siblings, and their mother struggled with drug addiction.[3] His sister mentions they experienced molestation by a family member during their upbringing.
Hemphill recalls their mother forcing Callihan to take ADHD medication as a child against his will, even resorting to physical abuse. Callihan's father, Kelly Wayne Drott, was also a murderer and served time in prison. His half-sister, Dixie Hemphill, described their mother as a "piece of crap" who moved them around frequently and exposed them to abusive situations.
She also mentioned their mother's abusive treatment of Callihan when he was forced to take medication, including physically forcing it down his throat. Hemphill believes that this upbringing and their mother's behavior may have contributed to Callihan's own troubled past and choices later in life. She also noted that Callihan has chosen women who reminded him of their mother. His father was sentenced to 21 years for manslaughter.
Legal issues
Criminal
2006: Arrest for improper telephone communication
In 2006, he was charged with improper telephone communication, a misdemeanor offense.[4]
2008–2010: Property crimes and other crimes
Callihan was charged with simple assault of a family member in 2008. Later that year, he was charged with theft and, alongside another family member, with aggravated battery for attacking someone with a mason jar. Callihan faced charges in 2008 and was convicted of various felony crimes such as burglary, theft, aggravated battery, and simple burglary. He pleaded guilty to felony simple burglary in 2009. He was also arrested for stealing something from his mother in 2009, although she later dropped the charges. He faced another simple burglary charge in 2010, which was later dismissed.[4]
2014: Probation violations and imprisonment
He was sentenced to a suspended 12-year jail sentence with probation for the 2009 simple burglary conviction. However, he violated his probation in 2014 and was ordered to serve five years of his original sentence, including drug rehabilitation treatment while in jail. Neighbors also described his "terrorizing" behavior, including setting a shed on fire and breaking into homes.
2024: Arrest for the Brunett kidnappings and murders
On June 12, 2024, Erin and Jalie Brunett's 35-year-old mother Callie Brunett was reported missing. Callie was allegedly stabbed multiple times. Detectives found Callie dead in her home in Loranger, Louisiana.[5] After Callie was murdered by stabbing, Erin and Jalie Brunett were kidnapped early in the evening of June 13, 2024, and taken to Jackson, Mississippi. Callie's father discovered her body in her Loranger home on the morning of June 13, 2024, after being unable to contact her. He found her "covered in blood" and her two young daughters, Jalie and Erin, missing.[6]
Upon discovering the missing children, Callie's father immediately called 9-1-1. Authorities launched a search, and Louisiana State Police issued an amber alert at 12:28 p.m., roughly four hours after the discovery that the children were missing. Callihan allegedly intended to keep Jalie as a "sex slave". Daniel Callihan and Erin and Jalie were sighted later. The girls were found in a wooded area in Jackson, Mississippi. Erin was found dead, and Jalie was found alive but injured.
Callihan was arrested in connection with the murders of a mother and her daughter in Loranger, Louisiana, and the kidnapping and murder of another of her daughters in Mississippi.[7][8] Victoria Cox was also arrested in connection with the kidnapping and murder case involving Callihan and the Brunett family. After Jalie Brunett was found alive, she was taken to a hospital for treatment. Authorities stated that she was found injured but alive near where her younger sister, Erin, was found deceased. Jackson police said Jalie was rushed to a hospital to receive treatment for unknown injuries.[9] Jalie was later released from the hospital and returned to Louisiana with her grandparents.[10]
Victims
Daniel Callihan killed two females in June 2024. One was killed in Loranger, Louisiana and another one was killed in Jackson, Mississippi. One victim survived.[11]
2024
- June 12: Callie Jo Brunett, 35. Reported missing. Callihan allegedly stabbed her multiple times in the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and back. Detectives found Callie dead in her home in Loranger, Louisiana.
- June 13: Erin Nicole Brunett, 4, and Jalie Brunett, 6. They were kidnapped and taken to Jackson, Mississippi. Callihan allegedly intended to keep Jalie as a "sex slave". Callihan and Erin and Jalie were sighted later. The girls were found in a wooded area in Jackson, Mississippi. Erin was found dead, and Jalie was found alive but injured. According to various reports from June 2024, law enforcement officials stated that Erin's cause of death was believed to be asphyxiation due to suffocation. Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade made this statement, emphasizing that the exact cause of death was pending autopsy results from the medical examiner. He also confirmed there were no gunshot wounds.[12]
References
- ↑ Lowrey, Erin (2025-06-14). "Loranger mother, child honored one year after brutal killings". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ↑ "Addiction specialist and psychiatrist details Daniel Callihan's confession". wwltv.com. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ↑ Chawla, Kiran (2024-06-17). "'He's demonic' | Daniel Callihan's sister recalls his troubled past & allegations he killed previously". Unfiltered with Kiran. Retrieved 2025-06-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Staff, FOX 8 (2024-06-15). "Daniel Callihan's criminal history revealed in Tangipahoa Parish records". https://www.fox8live.com. Retrieved 2025-06-23. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Staff, FOX 8 (2025-05-01). "Man accused of killing Loranger mother and child found competent to stand trial". https://www.fox8live.com. Retrieved 2025-06-27. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Limehouse, Jonathan. "Mother and girl dead, 6-year-old sister found alive: Timeline of chaotic Louisiana Amber Alert". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ↑ Carroll, Metia (2024-06-15). "What we know about Daniel Callihan and his criminal history". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ↑ Lowrey, Erin (2024-06-14). "Domestic incident, abduction and possible human trafficking: What we know about the Loranger deaths". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-06-22.
- ↑ Carroll, Metia (2024-06-17). "Tangipahoa Parish coroner confirms cause of death for Loranger mom". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ↑ "Abducted girl released from hospital, returning to Loranger after mom, sister killed". WBRZ. Retrieved 2025-06-27.
- ↑ Lowrey, Erin (2025-06-14). "Loranger mother, child honored one year after brutal killings". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ↑ "Jackson police chief announces additional charges in fatal kidnapping case". WGNO. 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
Other websites
- United States District Court files relating to Daniel Callihan
This article "Daniel Callihan" is from Simple English Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Daniel Callihan.
