A man from Louisiana with a history of criminal offenses has been charged with the abduction of two children and the murder of one of them in a potential case of human trafficking. David Callihan, 36, reportedly confessed to his crimes and stated that he believes he deserves the death penalty.
“I did it,” Callihan told reporters regarding the killing of 4-year-old Erin Brunett, whose body was discovered in Callihan’s car in Jackson, Mississippi. Her 6-year-old sister, Jalie, was found alive nearby.
“I have no reason for what I did,” Callihan stated. “All I know is I was sober and only on Lexapro, and off Lexapro, and I have also been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder.”
He made his confession to journalists outside the police headquarters in Jackson on Friday.
“I have told them everything I did, and I have agreed to not fight it,” he said as he was being placed in the back seat of a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy’s vehicle. “For what I did, lethal injection is the easiest thing for me.”
Callihan is facing charges of capital murder and sexual battery for taking the Brunett sisters from Louisiana to Mississippi, crossing state lines in the process, as reported by WDSU.
He also mentioned that he was not pretending to be mentally unstable, stating, “I am certified. I have only been out of the nuthouse for two weeks.”
Additionally, Callihan is a suspect in the death of the girls’ mother, Callie Brunett, 35.
The girls were found in a gruesome location that contained small animal cages.
Callie Brunett was discovered dead on June 13 in her home in Loranger, Louisiana, which is about three hours away from Callihan’s residence in Jackson. Callihan had a connection with Callie Brunett, according to WDSU.
The FBI has taken over the investigation.
An Amber alert was issued for Callie’s missing daughters after her father made the tragic discovery.
Callie was last seen on June 11.
Callihan stated that he was not contesting the charges and was cooperating with law enforcement.
Another individual, Victoria Cox, was arrested as a possible accomplice in the killings that occurred on Thursday, as reported by WLBT3.
According to records from the Tangipahoa Parish court, Callihan has a lengthy criminal history, with eight arrests since 2008 for charges including felony burglary, theft, aggravated battery, simple burglary, and simple assault.
Neighbors in Amite, Louisiana, described him as someone who “terrorized” the community, as reported by WDSU.
Residents claimed that Callihan lived under a bridge or in a camper, and he was known to engage in troubling behavior such as being naked with a crossbow, setting a shed on fire, and breaking into homes.
Darci Heck, a neighbor, expressed relief that Callihan had been apprehended but also mentioned feeling terrified. Heck’s 12-year-old daughter shared her fear of encountering Callihan in the area.
“It hurt so much to think he lived right there. It could have been us. It could have been anyone,” said Laci Beetz.
Police Chief Joseph Wade of Jackson described the situation as “horrible” and “tragic,” suggesting that the area where the girls were found could be connected to human trafficking.
When contacted by The Post, Jackson Police did not provide further details regarding the alleged human trafficking.
