A Louisiana man has admitted to stabbing a woman more than 50 times before kidnapping her two daughters, one of which was never seen alive again.
Daniel Wayne Callihan, 37, pleaded guilty to federal charges, admitting to authorities that after he killed Callie Brunett, 35, in 2024, before kidnapping her two daughters, aged four and six. Callihan then sexually assaulted one of the girls and murdered the other. Under the plea agreement, Callihan will serve life in prison.
"The FBI is committed to relentlessly pursuing violent predators, and our hearts go out to the families of these victims," said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "Every law enforcement partner who worked on this case was determined to deliver justice."
Callihan's guilt was never really in doubt. After being arrested last year, Callihan gave an impromptu interview with the media. When asked if he'd killed Brunett, he said, "Unfortunately, on Lexapro, sober, no drugs in my system, I did. I had no reason for what I did," WDSU-6 reported.
In the rambling 2024 interview, Callihan also claimed he had been diagnosed with "borderline multiple personality disorder," adding "and I'm on suicide watch, but I'm not suicidal."
As he was loaded into a police car, a reporter asked Callihan if he hoped for the death penalty. "For what I did? Lethal injection is the easiest thing for me." Despite this statement, the death penalty was removed as an option as part of the federal plea agreement.
According to PEOPLE, Brunett and Callihan had dated "off and on."
The older, surviving daughter is now being raised by her grandparents. A GoFundMe established for the family has raised more than $63,000.
Creating "a safe and loving home is now the only focus of her grandparents who are also mourning the loss of their child and youngest grandchild," the page states. "It will be a long road to recovery for this family."
