Mississippi
4-year-old Louisiana girl found dead, 6-year-old sister alive after frantic Amber Alert
Authorities issued an Amber Alert for 4-year-old Erin Brunett and her 6-year-old sister Jalie after their mother’s body was found in her Louisiana bedroom. Only one sister survived their ordeal.
When do you issue an Amber Alert or Silver Alert?
Indiana issues both Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts through the Emergency Alert System, based on certain criteria. Here’s how police agencies decide when to request one.
Dwight Adams, dwight.adams@indystar.com
A 4-year-old Louisiana girl was found dead in Mississippi on Thursday just hours after an Amber Alert was issued for her and her 6-year-old sister, both of whom were abducted from their home after their mother was found dead.
Four-year-old Erin Brunett and her 6-year-old sister Jalie were taken around 8 a.m. Thursday from their home in Loranger, about 45 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, Tangipahoa Parish Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis told reporters at a news conference.
Erin’s body was found 120 miles away in Jackson, Mississippi. She was found along with her unharmed sister and the girls’ suspected abductor, Daniel Callahan, Travis said. Callahan was in an “on-and-off relationship” with the girls’ now-deceased mother, 35-year-old Callie Brunett, according to the chief deputy.
It appears Erin was killed once Callahan knew that police tracked him to Mississippi, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade told WBRZ-TV.
“Once he realized law enforcement knew where he was, he tried to do away with the children,” Wade said, according to the Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based outlet. “Thank God one of them survived and the grandparents are on their way to Jackson, Mississippi.”
It’s unclear whether Callahan yet has an attorney.
How was Daniel Callahan arrested?
An undercover officers noticed Callahan “checking houses” in Jackson, according to Travis. Although Callahan attempted to flee, the officer managed to arrest him, he added.
Once in custody, Callahan directed officers to a car where Jalie was found “alive and well,” Travis said. Callahan then showed officers to a wooded area not far from the car, and that is where Erin’s body was discovered, according to the chief deputy.
Detectives with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office are currently on scene in Jackson. Earlier in the investigation, the sheriff’s office got information about Callahan driving Callie Brunett’s vehicle in Jackson, so they were already in that area checking with local law enforcement, Travis said.
How did the search for Erin and Jalie begin?
Authorities became aware of the girls’ abduction when their mother’s parents called the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and told them they hadn’t been able to contact or locate their daughter, Travis said during an earlier news conference.
Erin’s and Jalie’s father went to their mother’s home in Loranger at 8 a.m. on Thursday, found her body in the bedroom and called 911, according to Travis.
Authorities didn’t “have any reason to believe the kids could still be” at the scene after they searched throughout the wooded area near the home, Travis said.
Erin’s and Jalie’s mother’s car was not at the home when the girls’ father arrived, and her family hadn’t had contact with her since Tuesday afternoon, according to the chief deputy. It was unclear when the last time the girls or their mother were seen, Travis added.
The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner is determining the cause of death for Callie Brunett, according to the chief deputy.
‘She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this’
The Brunett family has been notified and Jalie’s grandparents are going to pick her up in Jackson, Travis said.
“She’s been through something that most of us hopefully never ever have to experience,” the chief deputy said about Jalie. “She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life living with this. This is horrific.”
Mississippi
Who finished No. 1 in Mississippi high school basketball Super 25 girls rankings?
The Mississippi girls high school basketball 2025-26 season has ended.
The MHSAA championships concluded March 7 at Mississippi Coliseum, while the MAIS overall tournament ended two weeks ago. Starkville finished as the No. 1 team in the final Clarion Ledger Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings.
Two teams enter the Super 25 final rankings as Louisville joins from MHSAA 4A and East Rankin Academy in MAIS 4A.
Mississippi high school girls basketball Super 25 rankings
1. Starkville (31-3)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 1. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.
2. Laurel (31-2)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 3. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.
3. Biloxi (30-2)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 2. Final game: Starkville 41, Biloxi 34 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.
4. Tishomingo County (28-2)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 4. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.
5. Olive Branch (23-7)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 8. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.
6. Harrison Central (26-7)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 7. Final game: Starkville 39, Harrison Central 22 in MHSAA 7A championship.
7. Neshoba Central (26-7)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 5. Final game: Olive Branch 58, Neshoba Central 57 in MHSAA 6A championship.
8. Madison Central (25-7)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 6. Final game: Harrison Central 56, Madison Central 40 in MHSAA 7A semifinals.
9. Booneville (24-4)
MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 9. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.
10. Canton (26-5)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: 10. Final game: Olive Branch 47, Canton 41 in MHSAA 6A quarterfinals.
11. Ingomar (33-2)
MHSAA Class 1A. Previous ranking: 12. Final game: Ingomar 65, Okolona 48 in MHSAA 1A championship.
12. Northwest Rankin (24-8)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 13. Final game: Harrison Central 45, Northwest Rankin 42 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.
13. Madison-Ridgeland Academy (36-5)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 14. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.
14. Pontotoc (23-9)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 16. Final game: Laurel 63, Pontotoc 38 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.
15. Brandon (23-8)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 17. Final game: Biloxi 55, Brandon 39 in MHSAA 7A quarterfinals.
16. Louisville (22-8)
MHSAA Class 6A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: Tishomingo County 64, Louisville 49 in MHSAA 4A championship.
17. Morton (27-3)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 11. Final game: Tishomingo County 65, Morton 40 in MHSAA 4A semifinals.
18. Choctaw Central (24-6)
MHSAA Class 4A. Previous ranking: 15. Final game: Morton 48, Choctaw Central 36 in MHSAA 4A quarterfinals.
19. Holmes County Central (22-12)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 23. Final game: Laurel 52, Holmes County Central 26 in MHSAA 5A championship.
20. Brookhaven (25-6)
MHSAA Class 5A. Previous ranking: 18. Final game: Holmes County Central 61, Brookhaven 55 in MHSAA 5A semifinals.
21. Belmont (24-7)
MHSAA Class 3A. Previous ranking: 19. Final game: Booneville 54, Belmont 31 in MHSAA 3A championship.
22. Simpson Academy (31-6)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: 21. Final game: MRA 37, Simpson Academy 25 in MAIS Overall championship.
23. West Harrison (24-5)
MHSAA Class 7A. Previous ranking: 22. Final game: Brandon 54, West Harrison 45 in MHSAA 7A first round.
24. East Union (30-2)
MHSAA Class 2A. Previous ranking: 24. Final game: East Union 57, New Site 38 in MHSAA 2A championship.
25. East Rankin Academy (31-7)
MAIS Class 4A. Previous ranking: Not ranked. Final game: MRA 57, East Rankin Academy 43 in MAIS Overall semifinals.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.
Mississippi
NCAA appeals to Mississippi Supreme Court, seeking to bar Trinidad Chambliss from playing in 2026
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The NCAA has filed an appeal in the eligibility case of Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
In the appeal, filed Thursday with the Mississippi Supreme Court, the NCAA argues that Chambliss has “exhausted his eligibility” to play Division I football because he has already played four seasons in a five-year period, the maximum allowed under NCAA rules.
A Mississippi judge last month granted Chambliss a preliminary injunction against college athletics’ governing body, giving him an extra year of eligibility that would allow him to play in 2026. The NCAA had previously denied Chambliss’ request for a waiver.
Chambliss began his college career at Ferris State in 2021, redshirted his first season and did not play in 2022 because of medical issues. He played two more seasons at the Division II school in Michigan, leading the Bulldogs to a national championship before transferring to Ole Miss before the start of last season.
The 23-year-old Chambliss led the Rebels to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Mississippi
Vicksburg soccer star Amari Johnson signs with East Mississippi CC
“I’m proud of myself for the work I’ve put in. A lot of people say they want to do stuff but they don’t work on it, so I’m proud that I stuck to stuff like practicing at home. Even when I didn’t want to go to practice I went,” Johnson said. “This year since I was a captain I had to show my leadership skills and step up, especially with our shortage of players. Not every year is the best but you’ve got to make the best of what you’ve got and I’m proud that I’ve been able to adapt to the changes.”
Johnson joined a growing pipeline of Warren County players who are headed to East Mississippi. She’s the fourth player from the county to sign there in the past two years. Johnson said another Vicksburg native is to credit for that.
Ryan Theriot, a former St. Aloysius star, is an assistant coach at East Mississippi. He’s mined his hometown for talent, including recruiting Johnson.
“The assistant coach, Ryan (Theriot), is from Vicksburg so he saw me. He emailed me asking if I was interested in playing soccer, so I said yes, if I get the opportunity I would be happy to,” Johnson said. “It’s very surreal, because honestly I did not think I would be playing soccer at this level. It’s hard to get looked at for soccer, especially in Vicksburg. Sometimes Vicksburg gets overlooked.”
During her high school career Johnson has played nearly every position on the field at one time or another, including keeper. She wasn’t sure where she’d play at East Mississippi, and doesn’t really care as long as she’s in the lineup.
“One time I had to play striker, and the next midfield. One time I had to go to defense. It was stressful. But then I’m kind of happy because when I get to college we’ll have other people to play all these positions. It was good for me to be versatile,” Johnson said. “If I have to change positions to play I definitely will, because I do want to start by the end of my freshman year.”
More than anything, she just wants to play and continue to leave her mark.
“I’m really excited to play at this next level so I can tell my kids I played soccer in college,” Johnson said. “I just want to thank my teammates from soccer, softball and volleyball, my coaches, and my mom and grandmom. I love all of y’all very much.”
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