Ep.83-Louisiana To Mississippi: The Tragic Deaths of Callie and Erin Brunett

A quiet Tuesday in Louisiana. A father’s unanswered calls. By Thursday morning, a young mother is found stabbed more than fifty times and her two daughters are missing. From that moment, every detail becomes a lifeline: the black Chrysler 200, the Amber Alert, and a suspect who doesn’t just flee to Jackson, Mississippi—he loops back and forth across state lines, then points police toward the unthinkable.

We unpack the case of Daniel Callahan and the victims who matter most: Callie Brunett, her four‑year‑old daughter Erin, and the surviving six‑year‑old. We trace the on‑off relationship that granted access, the fast-moving manhunt, and the arrest that opened the door to something darker than a single act of violence. Reports of a pit and small animal cages near where the girls were found raise hard questions about human trafficking in Jackson. We explore the conflicting early details, what investigators said on the record, and why those cages may point to a larger pattern that demands public tips and sustained scrutiny.

From the courtroom side, we break down the split jurisdiction—federal implications from crossing state lines and state charges in Mississippi—plus Callahan’s shifting pleas that ended with life without parole in Louisiana. We examine why some families and legal experts prefer a certain life sentence over the slow uncertainty of the death penalty, and what that means for real closure. We also cover the charges against Victoria Cox, her alleged role, bond decisions, and the possibility of a plea deal that could surface new information about trafficking activity.

Finally, we turn to prevention. Crowded stores and theme parks are not neutral ground for unattended kids. We share simple, no‑nonsense ways to keep children within reach and out of danger—because vigilance is not paranoia when seconds matter. If you care about true crime with clarity, accountability, and practical takeaways, press play, share this with a friend, and join the conversation. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: does life without parole deliver more justice than death row?

Source Material:

Spurge, Chris, October 13, 2025, After Raping girl, 6, and keeping her in a pit with her sister's body, duo may both get plea deals,https://people.com/daniel-callihan-victoria-cox-plea-deals-murder-kidnapping-sexual-battery-11829098

Vargas, Ramone Antonio, June15, 2024, Evidence of human trafficking found in murder of four-year-old-Louisiana girl, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/15/louisiana-murder-human-trafficking

Boyd, Parker, September 25, 2025, Daniel Callahan avoids death penalty with guilty plea in Louisiana killings, https://www.fox8live.com/2025/09/26/daniel-callihan-avoids-death-penalty-with-guilty-plea-louisiana-killings/

Cesaric, Corin, June 14, 2024, Possible Evidence of human trafficking found where girl and slain 4-year-old sister were found, https://people.com/girl-sister-found-mississippi-possible-human-trafficking-says-chief-8663607

Asma-Sedque, Samira, August 12, 2025, Man kidnapped 2 young girls, then strangled 1 to death-all after mother's killing, https://people.com/man-kidnapped-two-young-girls-then-smothered-to-death-after-moms-killin

Chapters

• 0:00 Opening Banter And True Crime Recs
• 1:06 Setting The Stage: Names That Matter
• 3:46 Timeline: Disappearance And Amber Alert
• 7:22 Relationship Context And Brutal Murder
• 9:24 Crossing States And The Arrest
• 11:02 Cox’s Role And Charges
• 13:05 Confessions, Motive, And Cause Of Death
• 15:32 Indictments, Death Penalty, And Pleas
• 18:20 Life Sentence vs Death Penalty Debate
• 20:36 Cages, Trafficking Leads, And Open Questions
• 23:07 Mississippi Proceedings And Plea Deals
• 25:12 Vigilance: Real-World Kid Safety Stories
• 28:23 Credits, Music Shoutout, And Social CTA