A man and woman were indicted on murder and kidnapping charges Thursday after reportedly killing a Louisiana mother and kidnapping her two daughters, one of whom they also killed.
FOX 8 in New Orleans A Tanjipahoa Parish grand jury handed down an indictment against 36-year-old Daniel Callihan on two counts of first-degree murder, one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of second-degree kidnapping, the release said.
The grand jury also indicted 32-year-old Victoria Cox on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and aiding and abetting first-degree murder after the fact.
In Louisiana, first-degree murder is punishable by life in prison or the death penalty.
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Daniel Callihan, 36, was arrested June 13 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office)
District Attorney Scott Perrilloux did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital and an inquiry about whether he plans to seek the death penalty.
Prosecutors have not decided whether they will seek the death penalty, the station reported, adding that they will consult with the family and wait for investigations by other agencies to progress before making a decision.
“This kind of thing doesn’t happen very often here. This is extremely serious. We expect it to be difficult and we know it’s difficult for the family,” Perrilloux said.
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Victoria Cox is charged with the murders of Carrie Brunette and Brunette’s 4-year-old daughter, Erin. (Jackson Police Department)
The district attorney also said he expects federal prosecutors will file charges against the pair in Mississippi.
“First of all, this is an issue that started here and it involves local people,” Perrilloux said. “We feel very strongly that the region has a right to have this issue ultimately resolved and decided here.”
The Tanjipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office announced on social media that deputies arrested Callihan on June 13.
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The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana announced on social media that deputies arrested Daniel Callihan, 36, for “committing a brutal and heinous act of violence” in the murders of Carrie Brunette, 35, and her daughter, Erin, 4, on June 13. (Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Police said Callihan “committed a brutal and heinous act of violence” in the murders of Carrie Brunette, 35, and her 4-year-old daughter, Erin.
in Press conference An Amber Alert for two trafficked children was initially issued on June 13, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade said last week.
Authorities say 4-year-old Erin was found dead in the woods.
A Louisiana woman was found dead in her home by police, and one of her two abducted young daughters was found dead in the woods hours later. (West Virginia)
“A dead child was found in the woods,” Wade said. “We suspect it may be one of the children that was taken from Tanjipahoa Parish, Louisiana, and that was in their illegal possession.”
The other abducted child, 6-year-old Jaylee, was found injured in the woods and taken to hospital for treatment.
Wade said police were still trying to determine the 4-year-old’s “cause of death.”
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After his arrest, Callihan confessed to killing the children and asked for the death penalty, saying “there was no reason for what I did,” the station reported.
It is not yet clear whether Cox was involved in any murder or crime.
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
