A woman from Louisiana was discovered deceased in her residence on Thursday, while her two young daughters were taken and subsequently found in Mississippi hours later.
Louisiana Mom Found Dead as Children Were Abducted
Dreadfully, one child was discovered dead near a car in a wooded area, while the other, aged 6, was discovered alive and well with a man who had formerly been in a relationship with the casualties.
The man was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, and had the casualty's vehicle and the surviving child.
Law enforcement officials, including Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, stated that the investigation led to the arrest of the suspect, who allegedly attempted to dispose of the children in the wooded area.
Louisiana State Police released an Amber Alert for the children following the discovery of their mother, Callie Brunett, dead in her home in Loranger, situated east of Baton Rouge.
Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards characterized the circumstances as an unthinkable disaster, offering condolences to the families of the casualties.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation's human trafficking division was informed by Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade about the disturbing findings, including those found in small animal cages.
"This was a deeply disturbing and cowardly act," Wade commented on the suspect's actions.
One of Two Children Abducted Found Dead in Louisiana
A 4-year-old Louisiana girl was discovered dead in Mississippi on Thursday, just hours after an Amber Alert was released for her and her 6-year-old sister, who were both abducted from their home following their mother's murder.
Four-year-old Erin Brunett and her 6-year-old sister Jalie were taken around 8 a.m. Thursday from their home in Loranger, about 45 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, according to Tangipahoa Parish Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis.
Erin's body was discovered 120 miles away in Jackson, Mississippi, along with her unharmed sister and their suspected abductor, Daniel Callahan.
Callahan had been in an "on-and-off relationship" with the girls' deceased mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett. Erin appears to have been killed when Callahan realized that police had tracked him down, according to Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade.
He also mentioned that he attempted to dispose of the children after becoming aware and thankful that one child survived, and the grandparents are now heading to another town.
It is unclear if Callahan has legal representation. Callahan was observed by undercover officers checking houses in Jackson. Though he attempted to flee, he was arrested.
Callahan directed officers to a car where Jalie was found "alive and well." He then led them to a nearby wooded area where Erin's body was discovered.
The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner is now determining how Callie Brunett died. Earlier, they received information about Callahan driving Callie Brunett's vehicle in Jackson.
Authorities learned of the girls' abduction when their grandparents called the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, reporting they had been unable to contact Callie. Erin's and Jalie's father found Callie's body in her bedroom at 8 a.m. Thursday and called 911.
The authorities searched the wooded area near the residence and found no evidence that the children were still present. Callie's car was missing when the girls' father arrived, and her family hadn't heard from her since Tuesday.
The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner is determining Callie Brunett's cause of death. The Brunett family has been notified, and Jalie's grandparents are en route to Jackson to pick her up.
"Jalie has endured something most of us hope to never experience," Chief Deputy Travis said. "She will have to live with this for the rest of her life," she said. It is horrific."
