LORANGER — Daniel Callihan was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on Friday after pleading guilty to the murder of a Loranger woman and her daughter in state court. 

Callihan pleaded guilty to the two first-degree murder counts more than a month after he pleaded guilty to federal kidnapping resulting in death and transportation of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activities charges. 

As Callihan walked into the courtroom Friday morning, with shackles around his wrists and waist, six Tangipahoa Sheriff's deputies followed behind him. One bench separated Callie and Erin Brunette's family from their killer. When the time came, Brunett's sister, Brandi Hosch told Daniel Callihan he, "had no soul."

Callihan pleaded guilty to killing Callie Brunett in Tangipahoa Parish. According to prosecutors, he stabbed Brunnett 50 times before taking the girls to Hinds County, Mississippi, where 4-year-old Erin Brunett was found dead.

"Daniel Callihan knows exactly what he did today," Kerry Cuccia, Callihan's defense attorney said. "He did not enter this plea today out of fear but out of recognition of the ills that he had and the only thing that he could do to try and make amends."

Brunett's 6-year-old daughter was later found and reunited with her family in Louisiana. Over the course of the investigation, it was learned that Callihan intended to keep her as a "sex slave."

Friday's plea lets Callihan avoid the death penalty, but judge Brian K. Ables called Callihan an animal who "must be caged to keep other people safe."

Both Callihan and his girlfriend, Victoria Cox, are also being charged with capital murder and related crimes in Mississippi. Cox was also indicted in Tangipahoa Parish. 

Callihan has a court date in Mississippi set for Sept. 29, and sentencing for his federal charges are set for December.

Callihan's two consecutive life sentences in Louisiana will be the first to be served, officials added.