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
Clemson makes an impression on big Mississippi lineman
2026 Louisville (MS) Nanih Waiya offensive lineman Grant Kitchens attended the Dabo Swinney Football Camp in early June and also had the opportunity to take in Clemson for the first time.
Kitchens has begun to receive interest from several schools, including Florida and Mississippi State, and the Bulldogs have offered. He has received interest from the Tigers and had the opportunity to put on a show.
“It was a great experience overall,” Kitchens said. “It was good to learn and work with the offensive line coaches. I like the campus and the coaches.”
Kitchens had the opportunity to work with offensive line coach Matt Luke during the camp, and his most significant takeaway was how Luke’s coaching style matches Kitchens’ personality.
“He (Luke) pushed me to get better,” said Kitchens. “That’s what I like. I want to be pushed. I wanna be able to get better at the end of the day.”
Kitchens describes himself as a physical player on the field, and with the rising junior’s frame set at 6-foot-8, 308 pounds, he can certainly pack a punch.
Regarding a timeline for any potential decision, Kitchens wants to be committed by his senior year and hopes to have a list of preferred schools very soon.
The Tigers haven’t offered Kitchens yet and are working closely with him in the coming months, but an offer from Clemson would be significant to receive.
“An offer from Clemson would be amazing,” said Kitchens. “To have a chance to play for Clemson, Coach Dabo (Swinney), and Coach (Matt) Luke would be amazing! It’s a great program that has had success and with one of the best O-line coaches in the nation.
”Man, I just can’t put it into words how I would feel.”
Mississippi
Former Bulldog basketball star Victoria Vivians returns to Starkville to join Mississippi State’s coaching staff
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WLBT) – WNBA player Victoria Vivians is making her way back home to Mississippi, and when she gets here she’ll make the transition from player to coach.
On Monday, Mississippi State announced that the former women’s basketball standout would join Sam Purcell and his staff as an assistant coach, and director of scouting. The current Seattle Storm guard will start her coaching career in October after the end of the WNBA season.
In 2018, Vivians was selected eighth overall by the Indians Fever. After spending five seasons with the Fever, she then signed with the Storm in March.
The Bulldog legend left her mark on the court while at Mississippi State. She was a three-time All-SEC First Team member, averaged 17.1 points, and helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to two national championship game appearances.
Before the former Bulldog started her collegiate career, she shined in Jackson at Scott Central. In 2014 she became the state’s all-time leading girls’ basketball scorer.
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.
Copyright 2024 WLBT. All rights reserved.
Mississippi
Former Oklahoma Defensive Lineman Commits to Mississippi State
STARKVILLE, Miss. —Kevonte Henry is the newest member of the 2025 class. Henry previously was at Oklahoma with MSU head coach Jeff Lebby before entering the transfer portal on December 7th, 2022.
During his time in Norman, he never appeared in a game and transferred to Cerritos College, a junior college in California. Last season, the Lawndale, Cali. native made 43 tackles, 7.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
The 6-4 225 defensive lineman does not have a recruiting for his JUCO days but was a consensus 4-star coming out of Leuzinger High School. This is a solid pickup for the Bulldog coaching staff as they continue to put an emphasis on junior college recruiting.
However, Henry is not a typical JUCO prospect. Coming out of high school, he held impressive offers from Michigan, Florida, Oregon, and USC. The talent is there for Henry, and Lebby has seen the defensive lineman firsthand.
The Bulldogs hosted a big group of official visitors for the first time, and the coaching staff took full advantage as they doubled their 2025 class in just one weekend.
-
Movie Reviews1 week ago
‘Darkest Miriam’ Review: Britt Lower in a Marvel of a Drama About a Young Librarian’s Loves and Fears
-
Politics1 week ago
Gun group vows to 'defend' Trump's concealed carry license after conviction
-
Politics1 week ago
Should Trump have confidence in his lawyers? Legal experts weigh in
-
Politics1 week ago
GOP releases Jan. 6 clip of Pelosi saying 'I take responsibility' as she discussed National Guard absence
-
News1 week ago
Trump to escalate blame on trial judge Juan Merchan if sentenced to prison
-
World1 week ago
Orban party loses major support in Hungary's EU election
-
World1 week ago
EU elections: Slovakia and Italy voting; Far-right surge expected
-
World1 week ago
Ukraine reconstruction official quits citing ‘systemic obstacles’