A Louisiana man confessed to stabbing a woman more than 50 times before kidnapping her two daughters, one of whom was never seen again.
Daniel Wayne Callihan, 37, pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted to authorities that he killed Callie Brunett, 35, in 2024 before kidnapping her two daughters, ages four and six.
Callihan then sexually assaulted one of the girls before murdering the other. Callihan will spend the rest of his life in prison, according to the plea agreement.
“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 truly in doubt. After being arrested last year, Callihan gave an impromptu interview to journalists. When asked if he had killed Brunett, he replied, “Unfortunately, while on Lexapro, sober, and with no drugs in my system, I did. “I had no reason to do what I did,” WDSU-6 reported.
In the rambling 2024 interview, Callihan also claimed to have 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 wanted the death penalty. “For what have I done? Lethal injection is the easiest option for me.” Despite this statement, the death penalty was removed from the federal plea agreement.
According to PEOPLE, Brunett and Callihan dated “off and on.”
The older, surviving daughter is currently being raised by her grandparents. A GoFundMe page created for the family has raised over $63,000.
Giving their granddaughter “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,” according to the article. “It will be a long road to recovery for this family.”
