Daniel Callahan : “Tragic Discovery: Abducted Child Found Dead in Trafficking Case”

(CNN) — A Louisiana man taken into custody in connection with the murder of a woman and her young daughter may have had an accomplice, according to the Jackson Police Department.

The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Daniel Callahan, was apprehended on Thursday after the discovery of a deceased 35-year-old mother and her two abducted daughters in Mississippi. Tragically, one of the daughters was found dead, while the other was found alive. Investigators are treating this as a potential case of human trafficking. Callahan’s alleged accomplice, 32-year-old Victoria Cox, was later arrested at a motel in south Jackson, as reported by Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade.

Callahan stands accused of committing “brutal and heinous acts of violence,” including the murders of Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter, according to the sheriff’s office in Tangipahoa Parish, located just north of New Orleans.

Victoria Cox is currently undergoing questioning as authorities work to ascertain her precise role in the incident. Chief Wade revealed, “Based on information that I received yesterday and early this morning, she is an acquaintance and potentially the girlfriend of Mr. Callahan.”

Investigators in Jackson noted that the wooded area where the girls were found showed indications that it may have been used for human trafficking purposes, including the presence of small animal cages.

Sheriff Daniel Edwards of Tangipahoa Parish expressed condolences, saying, “Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this tragic event. These are unspeakable crimes. We ask everyone to keep Callie’s family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Earlier on Thursday, an Amber Alert was issued for Brunett’s abducted daughters, aged 4 and 6, following the mother’s discovery in a deceased state in her residence, according to Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis.

After an extensive search effort, law enforcement in Jackson, Mississippi, managed to locate the suspect, leading to a harrowing discovery. Chief Wade described a “tragic scene” unfolding after a brief pursuit, during which Callahan was apprehended in a wooded area near a house. The lifeless body of the 4-year-old was found unburied in the surrounding woods, with the other sister being discovered injured and subsequently hospitalised.

Chief Wade expressed his distress, stating, “It’s deeply disturbing to me as a police chief and as a father to witness and see what I just saw.” An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

Due to signs of potential human trafficking activity at the location, Jackson authorities have engaged with human trafficking divisions within the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and Hinds County. Chief Wade emphasised the meticulous approach to processing the crime scene, stating, “We’re going to work this crime scene with surgical precision. It’s going to be a lengthy process.”

Many unanswered questions linger, including the motive behind Callahan’s actions and the circumstances surrounding the child’s tragic demise.

While Callahan had not yet been interviewed by Thursday evening, investigators believe the suspect resides in Louisiana and had an intermittent relationship with Brunett. The Amber Alert issued referenced a man, later identified as Callahan, sought for questioning in relation to a domestic violence incident at the time of the abduction, resulting in a homicide.

Priority is placed on interviewing Callahan and providing care for the surviving 6-year-old victim. Chief Travis highlighted the traumatic ordeal the young girl endured, stating, “She’s been through something that most of us, hopefully, never ever get to experience. And she is going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this.”

Authorities confirmed Cox’s compliance during her arrest and stressed that she will be held accountable for her involvement in the “horrific event.” Chief Wade indicated possible charges for Cox, ranging from capital murder to being an accessory before or after the fact, as justice is sought for the loss of the child.

CNN has reached out to the Jackson Police Department and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office for further details.