A Louisiana man with a lengthy criminal record who was charged with kidnapping two children and killing one of them for alleged human trafficking has reportedly pleaded guilty and said he deserves the death penalty.
“I did it,” suspect David Callihan, 36, told reporters about the murder of 4-year-old Erin Brunette, whose body was found in her car on Thursday in Jackson, Mississippi. Her 6-year-old sister, Jaylee, was found alive nearby.
“There is no reason for what I did,” Callihan said, “All I know is that I was sober, on and off Lexapro, and was diagnosed with multiple personality disorder.”
He made the apparent confession to reporters Friday outside police headquarters in Jackson.
“I told them everything I’d done, and I agreed to not fight it,” he said as he was placed in the backseat of a Rankin County sheriff’s deputy’s car. “Lethal injection is the easiest thing for me to do for what I’ve done.”
Callihan is charged with murder and sexual assault for abducting the Brunette sisters from Louisiana and taking them across state lines into Mississippi. WDSU reported.
“I’m not pretending to be crazy. I’m certified. I’ve only been out of a psychiatric hospital for two weeks,” Callihan added.
The girls’ mother, Carrie Brunette, 35, was found dead several days ago, and Callihan is a suspect in her death.
The girls were discovered in a gruesome scene in an area that also contained cages for small animals.
Carrie Brunet’s bloody body was discovered on June 13 at her home in Loranger, Louisiana, about three hours from Carrie Han’s current home in Jackson. Carrie Han was in a relationship with Carrie Brunet, WDSU reported.
The FBI is currently leading the investigation.
An Amber Alert was issued for Callie’s missing daughters after her father discovered her body inside her trailer.
Curry was last seen on June 11th.
Callihan did not contest the charges and said he was cooperating with police.
The alleged accomplice in Thursday’s murder is Victoria Coxwas also arrested, according to police.
According to Tanjipahoa Parish court records cited by WDSU, Callihan has a lengthy criminal history.
The records include eight arrests since 2008 on charges including felony theft, burglary, aggravated assault, simple theft and simple assault.
He “terrorized” the residents and neighbors of Amite, Louisiana.WDSU reported.
They said Callihan sometimes lived under a bridge and sometimes in a camper.
Neighbors said the man had been seen naked and carrying a crossbow, once set a shed on fire and broken into several homes.
Darcy Heck said she lives across the street from Callihan in Amite.
“I mean, I’m glad they caught him, but I’m scared,” Heck said.
Heck’s 12-year-old daughter said she felt fear every time she saw Callihan in the area.
“It’s so hard knowing that he lived right there. It could have been us. It could have been anyone,” Laci Beets said.
Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade described the scene as “horrifying” and “tragic,” and said he believes the area where the girls were found may have been connected to human trafficking.
When The Washington Post reached out to Jackson police on Saturday, the department did not have any further details about the alleged human trafficking.
