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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A federal magistrate judge granted a motion to keep details protected in the case against Daniel Callihan, the confessed killer of Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter.

The order was filed in the Eastern District of Louisiana federal court in New Orleans on Monday (June 17). Since the case contains sensitive information about children, federal prosecutors from the US Attorney’s Office requested Callihan’s affidavits be redacted and protected from disclosure. The motion was granted.

The motion states “the Assistant United States Attorney (was) informed by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation that should the complaint, affidavit and arrest warrant become public record, it would severely hamper this ongoing criminal investigation and endanger law enforcement personnel.”

Authorities in Tangipahoa Parish said they believe Callihan fatally stabbed the 35-year-old woman multiple times in her home in Loranger and fled with her two children across state lines. Brunett’s father discovered her body early Thursday (June 13) morning after she was reported missing the day before.

The body of Brunett’s 4-year-old daughter was found in woods outside the city of Jackson later that day and Callihan was taken into custody. Brunett’s 6-year-old daughter was found alive but injured.

Callihan appeared before a magistrate judge on Monday in Jackson, Miss. A preliminary and detention hearing was scheduled for June 25. He was assigned representation from the public defender’s office.

He was remanded to the custody of the US Marshals Service and is being held at the Madison County Detention Center.

Police in Jackson, Mississippi, apprehended Daniel Callihan Thursday evening (June 13). The... — Police in Jackson, Mississippi, apprehended Daniel Callihan Thursday evening (June 13). The arrest followed the discovery of 4-year-old Erin Brunett's body shortly after Callihan was taken into custody.(Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office)

Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade says the 3-year-old likely died from suffocation or asphyxiation, although the exact cause of death is pending autopsy results. The chief confirmed there were no gunshot wounds.

Callihan and his alleged accomplice, Victoria Cox, are each facing charges of capital murder and sexual battery in Mississippi.

Daniel Callihan (left) and Victoria Cox (right) are accused in the killings of Callie Brunett... — Daniel Callihan (left) and Victoria Cox (right) are accused in the killings of Callie Brunett and her 4-year-old daughter.(JPD)

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Callihan made a shocking confession to killing the child and requested the death penalty after he was taken into custody. He said he had “no reason for what I did.”

The extent of Cox’s role, the motive behind the crimes, and how the duo will be prosecuted remain unclear. In her first court appearance on Monday, Cox was denied bond on the capital murder charge, keeping her jailed during proceedings.

A public defender representing Cox argued that the two girls were alive when his client last saw them. He says Cox was picked up on the way to Jackson with no information about the girls.

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