One year ago Friday, a brutal murder and kidnapping case shattered the Loranger community in Tangipahoa Parish.
Callie Brunett died on June 12 after Daniel Callihan, believed to be linked to her romantically, admitted on live television to brutally killing her at her home in Loranger.
Callihan is accused of taking her two daughters across state lines to Mississippi, where he killed her youngest, Erin Brunett, and sexually assaulted her oldest. The oldest was rescued a day after her mother was killed.
He was arrested and is facing murder and kidnapping charges.
Callihan and his alleged accomplice, Victoria Cox, are awaiting their trials.
Callihan is charged federally and criminally in both Louisiana and Mississippi.
Cox is facing charges in both Louisiana and Mississippi.
Callihan’s federal trial is set for July. Cox’s next court hearing in her case in Mississippi is Dec. 8.
Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Scott Perrilloux issued the following statement regarding the latest in the investigation:
“It has been an unusually slow and frustrating case to move forward due to the multiple prosecution offices pursuing charges.
This is not the course wanted by the victims’ family nor this office when the entire matter can be handled in Tangipahoa Parish.
We will continue our efforts to bring justice to the Brunett family and the Loranger community.”
Honoring Brunett and Erin:
Both Brunett and Erin were beautiful lights in this world, gone too soon, according to her sister Brandi Hosch.
Brunett came into Hosch’s life when she was adopted at just 2 weeks old. Hosch was in eighth grade and immediately stepped into the big sister role.
“She loved crafts,” Hosch said in an exclusive interview with WDSU last year following the killings. “She crocheted, and she made jewelry and stuff. And she would go to little local farmers markets and sell that.”
But Brunett’s greatest love, according to Hosch, was her children.
“She was always with her kids, always excited for their next milestone,” Hosch said. “She really loved them. She was a very trusting person, and just as she was, she was a good mom.”
Like Hosch and Brunett had their bond, little Erin also shared that with her own sister.
“Erin was spicy, to say the least,” Hosch said. “She had a great little personality. She loved to, like, make jokes, and, just, my dad was always picking on her. She would just come right back at them. Sweet, sweet little thing. She was never far from our sister. Always wanted to do what her big sister was doing.”
As a close-knit family, Hosch and her parents expressed their appreciation for their family and community following the tragedy.
“It’s been just unreal how much that they have showed up for us and how sad they are also for us,” Hosch said. “You know, it has really affected everyone in our community.”
READ MORE:Loranger mother, child honored one year after brutal killings
