A man who committed heinous acts against a six-year-old girl has avoided the death penalty by agreeing to plea deals in a shocking case. On the night of June 11, 2024, Daniel Callihan, 37, brutally attacked his ex-girlfriend, Callie Brunett, 35, stabbing her over 50 times. He then abducted her two young daughters, aged six and four, and drove them more than 130 miles away. The situation took an even darker turn when Callihan suffocated the four-year-old girl to death after sexually assaulting her, allegedly with the help of Victoria Cox, 34. The older sibling was held captive as a “sex slave” in a squalid pit along with the deceased younger sister. Callie’s body was discovered on June 13, leading to a search for her missing daughters.
Following a joint effort by local, state, and federal law enforcement using license plate readers, Callie’s stolen car was traced to Callihan’s residence in Mississippi. Authorities found the surviving child at the property, alongside her sister’s remains, in the same pit. A coroner determined that the younger girl died from asphyxiation due to suffocation. At the subsequent sentencing, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens emphasized the horrific nature of the crime, stating that leaving children in such conditions was unfathomable.
Callihan was apprehended after leading officers to the wooded area where he had kept the six-year-old captive. He pleaded guilty to federal and state charges, ensuring a life sentence. Cox, charged as an accessory, faces state charges and is set for trial in December after pleading not guilty. In a disturbing twist, Callihan attributed his actions to the side effects of his antidepressants, claiming he was sober at the time of the crimes. He expressed remorse but acknowledged the severity of his actions, indicating a preference for lethal injection.
During Callihan’s sentencing, Callie’s sister Brandi Hosch condemned him as a “demon,” expressing the enduring pain inflicted on the family. The FBI and various law enforcement agencies involved in the case were commended for their dedication to delivering justice. FBI Special Agent Jonathan Tapp affirmed that extensive efforts were made to ensure Callihan never repeats such atrocities.
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