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Jackson police chief calls killings, abduction suspect a 'bad actor' and says death of girl still imprinted in his mind

Chief Joseph Wade says FBI is taking the lead in the case and talks extradition possibilities due to crimes across state lines.

JACKSON, Miss — Less than a week since the arrest of killings and abduction suspects Daniel Callihan and Victoria Cox for allegedly murdering Callie Brunett and kidnapping her two children before killing the youngest, Jackson Police Department Chief Joseph Wade talked to media about what he calls 'horrific, heinous and sickening' acts of violence.

According to Chief Wade, due to the federal charges involved with the accusations of the suspects taking the children from Louisiana to Mississippi, the FBI is now leading the investigation.

"The FBI is taking the lead in the case because these kids were transported across state lines," Wade explained. "We should know soon what federal charges they will be facing, but on the state level, the Jackson Police Department has charged both of these individuals with capital murder and sexual battery."

"They are facing additional charges in Tangipahoa," he continued. "They are facing federal charges – and we're not ruling out additional charges on the state level here in the city of Jackson in the state of Mississippi as well."

On Friday, a day after the two were arrested in Jackson, Miss., the 36-year-old Callihan admitted to killing the youngest of the two sisters.

"Sober, no drugs in my system, I did it," he said. "I have no reason for what I did. All I want to say is that I was sober and only on LexaPro – and off LexaPro – and I'm also diagnosed with borderline multiple personality disorder."

During the press conference, Wade addressed a question about the possibilities of extradition.

"We are talking about extradition, and what that looks like," he said. "Because we have state charges in Mississippi. There are state charges pending in Louisiana. And, of course, we have federal charges. So, we have a lot of different dynamics working here.

"That's going to be up to the prosecutor, whether it's the US attorney or whether it's a district attorney as to what they want to pursue. But I think if there's a case, that would definitely rise to the level of the death penalty, this should be it because I still have imprinted in my head the sight of that 4-year-old in the woods – dead."

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