Man accused in killing and kidnappings in Louisiana waives extradition

JACKSON, ma’am. — A man arrested for the murder of a Louisiana woman and the kidnapping of her two daughters and subsequent death of one of them waived extradition in federal court in Mississippi on Friday, clearing the way for his return to Louisiana to stand trial.

During his appearance in Jackson, Daniel Callihan, 36, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and his detention hearing, multiple news sources reported. He will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he is transferred to Louisiana for those proceedings, the stations said. It was not immediately known when that would happen.

Callihan has been charged with federal conspiracy in Mississippi. He and another suspect, Victoria Cox, are expected to be charged with several state and federal charges in Mississippi and Louisiana, including first-degree murder, sexual assault and kidnapping. Jail records did not list attorneys for either suspect, and the U.S. attorney’s office in Louisiana declined to comment when asked about the cases.

They are accused in the death last week of Callie Brunett, 35, of Loranger, Louisiana, and in the kidnapping and death of Brunett’s 4-year-old daughter, whose abduction traveled from Louisiana to Mississippi. Brunett’s six-year-old daughter survived the kidnapping and has since been returned to family in Louisiana.

Although he waived his right to federal hearings, Callihan must return to Mississippi to face state charges in connection with the alleged crimes.