Two individuals in Louisiana are taken into custody. They face charges for the murder of a girl and the sexual assault of her sister, according to the police.
Daniel Callihan and Victoria Cox landed in Hot Water last week in Mississippi, following the grim discovery of a 4-year-old child's lifeless body and a 6-year-old's injuries at a Jackson location suspected to be connected to a heinous human trafficking operation.
Authorities in Louisiana had previously accused Callihan of brutally murdering the girls' mother, Callie Brunett, at her home in Loranger, Louisiana, and snatching the girls away – leading to an urgent Amber Alert for the children just hours before they were found over 100 miles north in Jackson.
Callihan and Cox are now charged with heinous crimes against the children, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade announced on Monday. Charges in Louisiana and federal charges are still forthcoming, according to Wade.
Cox has been accused of helping Callihan carry out his horrific acts, though Wade has remained tight-lipped about the details. CNN has yet to identify defense counsel for either Callihan or Wade.
Investigators suspect the 4-year-old's death was the result of asphyxiation or suffocation. A medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death.
Despite refusing to comment on the potential penalty for the accused, Wade hinted at the serious nature of the crime, stating, "If there's a case that warrants the death penalty, this one certainly fits the bill."
For now, authorities do not anticipate charging anyone else beyond these two suspects. Wade expressed relief, saying, "The city of Jackson, the state of Louisiana, and the Gulf South region is a safer place now that these two are behind bars."
The motives behind Brunett's murder, the 4-year-old's death, and the girls' abduction remain murky.
During a court hearing on Monday, Cox claimed her innocence and asserted that both girls were still alive the last time she saw them in Jackson, according to CNN affiliate WLBT.
A judge set Cox's bond for a sexual battery charge at $500,000, while Cox will remain in custody without bail for the capital murder charge, WLBT reported.
Investigative Chronology
An Amber Alert was issued on Thursday for Brunett's daughters after authorities found Brunett dead in her home in southeastern Louisiana. The alert stated that a man, later identified as Callihan, was being sought for questioning in connection with a domestic violence incident and subsequent homicide.
Investigators believe Callihan had an on-again, off-again relationship with Brunett.
Hours after the Amber Alert, authorities in Jackson (approximately 130 miles north of Brunett's Louisiana home) managed to track down Callihan and stumbled upon a shocking scene.
Following a brief chase, Callihan was apprehended in a wooded area near a Jackson house, and the body of the 4-year-old was found on the premises. The 6-year-old, who had sustained injuries, was rushed to a hospital.
The 6-year-old is still receiving medical care in Jackson, according to Wade.
Suspicious small cages and enclosures at the Jackson location have led investigators to suspect human trafficking activities may have taken place there, Wade announced on Monday.
Cox was apprehended on Friday at a motel in south Jackson, Wade revealed.
As Callihan was being led away by officers from the Jackson police headquarters on Friday, a journalist asked him why he allegedly killed the young girl.
"I have no reason for what I did," Callihan replied. He added that he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Callihan, during questioning, did not deny his actions and implicated Cox, according to Wade. Cox reportedly has a casual acquaintance with Callihan, the chief disclosed last week.
A GoFundMe page was created to provide financial assistance to the Brunett family during their time of unspeakable sorrow, to help cover funeral expenses for Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter, and to support the remaining family members and surviving child in navigating this tragedy.
CNN's Elizabeth Wolfe, Mallika Kallingal, and Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.
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The FBI is now involved in the investigation, as they believe this case may have links to a larger network of human trafficking operations across multiple states, involving the 'us'.
Despite being behind bars, Callihan and Cox continue to be a topic of interest among the community, with many expressing their hope for justice for the victims and their families.
