A man and woman were charged Thursday with murder and kidnapping in the death of a Louisiana mother and kidnapping of her two daughters, one of whom was also killed, according to reports.
Fox 8 New Orleans reports that a Tangipahoa Parish grand jury returned an indictment against Daniel Callihan, 36, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder and one count each of aggravated kidnapping and second-degree murder. Kidnapping.
The grand jury also indicted Victoria Cox, 32, on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and accessory after the fact to first-degree murder.
In Louisiana, first-degree murder is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty.
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Daniel Callihan, 36, was arrested on June 13 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Tangipho Parish Sheriff’s Office)
District Attorney Scott Perry-Lux did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital about whether he plans to seek the death penalty.
The district attorney said his office has not decided whether to seek the death penalty, the station reported, adding that he planned to consult with the family and let other agencies investigate before making a decision.
“These things don’t happen very often here and this is an extremely important thing. I expect this to be devastating and I know it’s devastating for this family,” Perilloux said.
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Victoria Cox is accused of murdering Carly Brunette and Brunette’s 4-year-old daughter Erin. (Jackson Police Department)
The district attorney also said he expected federal prosecutors to bring charges against the two men in Mississippi.
“First of all, it originated here and involved local people here,” Perilloux said. “I feel strongly that this community should have the right to ultimately address and decide this issue here.”
The Tangipahoe Parish Sheriff’s Office announced on social media that deputies arrested Callihan on June 13.
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The Tangipoho Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana said on social media that police arrested 36-year-old Daniel Callihan on June 13 on suspicion of murdering 35-year-old Calli Boo. Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter Erin “committed a brutal and heinous act of violence.” (Tangipho Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Police said Callihan “committed a brutal and heinous act of violence” in the murders of 35-year-old Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter Erin.
At a news conference last week, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said an Amber Alert was first issued on June 13 for the two trafficked children.
Four-year-old Erin was found dead in the woods, authorities said.
Police found a Louisiana woman dead in her home, hours after one of her two kidnapped young daughters was found dead in the woods. (West Virginia University)
“They found a dead child in the woods,” Wade said. “We suspect this was one of the children he illegally possessed, that he took from Tangipahoe Parish, Louisiana.”
Another kidnapped child, 6-year-old Jia Li, was found injured in the woods and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Wade said police were still trying to determine the “manner of death” of the 4-year-old.
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Callihan allegedly admitted to killing the children and asked for the death penalty after his arrest, saying he had “no reason to do it,” the station reported.
Cox’s involvement in the murder and crime remains unclear.
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.
