Daniel Wayne Callihan, a 37-year-old resident of Amite, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the kidnapping and death of a minor, as well as transporting a minor across state lines for criminal sexual activity. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk in New Orleans.
Callihan was charged with kidnapping resulting in death under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1201(a), and transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity under Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(a). He has been held in federal custody since being charged by federal 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.”
According to court documents, on June 12, 2024, Callihan was at a Loranger residence where he stabbed an adult woman more than fifty times resulting in her death. He then kidnapped her two daughters—ages four and six—and used their mother’s car to drive them first to McComb, Mississippi; later returning to Amite before picking up another accomplice identified as Co-Conspirator 1.
Callihan then transported both minors along with Co-Conspirator 1 to a residence in Jackson, Mississippi. Between June 12-13, both adults engaged in sexual battery against one of the minors (age six) after crossing state lines from Louisiana into Mississippi with intent that criminal sexual acts would occur—a violation of relevant statutes from both states.
On June 13 at the Jackson property on Boozier Drive, Callihan suffocated the four-year-old girl until she died.
Law enforcement began investigating after discovery of Adult Victim 1’s body later that day. Officers located Callihan and recovered evidence at Boozier Drive—including finding Minor Victim 2 alive but also discovering Minor Victim 1 deceased.
After being arrested and waiving his Miranda rights, Callihan admitted responsibility for stabbing Adult Victim 1 as well as kidnapping both children; he further admitted traveling between states where he committed additional crimes against Minor Victim 2 alongside Co-Conspirator 1—whose own statement corroborated these events.
Under terms agreed upon with prosecutors should Judge Africk accept his guilty plea on all counts within the Superseding Indictment: prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for Count One (kidnapping resulting in death). For this count alone Callihan faces mandatory life imprisonment plus fines up to $250,000; for Count Two (transporting a minor) he faces at least ten years up to life imprisonment plus similar fines. Each count carries requirements including supervised release between five years up through life as well as sex offender registration obligations.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2025. The court may order sentences for each count served concurrently or consecutively; sentences may also run concurrent or consecutive with any imposed by other jurisdictions currently prosecuting related cases against him.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson acknowledged investigative support from multiple agencies including federal authorities such as the FBI and U.S Marshals Service; local offices such as Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office; district attorneys’ offices from both parishes involved; Mississippi Bureau of Investigation; Jackson Police Department; as well as staff from his own office’s Victim/Witness Unit.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg (Public Integrity Unit) and Sarah Dawkins (Violent Crime Unit) are leading prosecution efforts.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood—a national initiative begun by the Department of Justice in May 2006 focused on combatting child exploitation through combined resources at every level.More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found online.
