NEW ORLEANS — According to just-released federal court documents, Daniel Callihan stabbed Callie Brunett about 30 times on Wednesday, June 12, before he kidnapped her daughters.
Documents obtained reveal that he was spotted at a McDonald's in McComb, Mississippi, June 12th -- the same day he allegedly killed Callie Brunett, with what appeared to be two minors in the backseat that day—the day before anyone even knew the girls were missing.
The documents say the girls were found the next day (June 13) in a pit behind a vacant house off Boozier Dr. According to the documents, 4-year-old Erin had been killed, and Callihan admitted he wanted to keep her older sister as a sex slave.
Callihan appeared in a federal court in New Orleans Friday morning. He was charged with kidnapping and transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
We spoke with his lawyer, Kerry Cuccia, but he couldn’t give much insight on the case.
“At this point it really would be improper for me to make any type of comment about the nature of the case, the difficulty, ease, what’s going to happen,” Kerry Cuccia said. ”All I’ve seen is what I’ve seen in the media.”
Callihan’s charges in all three jurisdictions – Louisiana, Mississippi and federal, could result in the death penalty. But Loyola Law professor Dane Ciolino, says it’s unclear if federal authorities will go that route.
“It’s a very difficult process,” Ciolino said. “It’s got to go through the capital crimes committee the attorney general himself has to sign off on seeking the death penalty.”
There will be a preliminary hearing at federal court on July 12.
Earlier this week, Callihan was extradited back to Louisiana. The 36-year-old is being held at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.
Callihan and his alleged accomplice, Victoria Cox, will be tried in both Mississippi and Louisiana. Callihan faces two first-degree murder charges in Louisiana and capital murder charges in Mississippi in relation to the death of Callie and Erin Brunett. He also faces a federal kidnapping charge.
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