A California man has been charged in connection with a fake ransom threat involving Nancy Guthrie, who has gone missing. The suspect, Derrick Callella, 42, will make his initial court appearance on Friday in downtown Los Angeles. This information has been reported by El-Balad.
Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance and the Ransom Threat
The case began gaining attention after Nancy Guthrie’s family shared a video on Instagram seeking information about her whereabouts. Shortly after this post, family members began receiving disturbing messages.
Details of the Ransom Demand
- The Guthrie family received text messages asking if they had sent bitcoin.
- The texter claimed to be waiting for the transaction to go through.
- A brief nine-second phone call was made to a family member shortly after the text messages.
Callella was arrested in Hawthorne, California, following an investigation by authorities. He faces several federal charges, including transmitting a ransom demand and making harassing communications.
Investigation Findings
Authorities managed to trace the phone number used to send the messages. During his questioning, Callella confessed to sending the texts. He claimed to have sourced the family’s information from a “cyber website.” His intention, according to the complaint, was to see if the family would respond.
Federal Response and Arrest
Heith Janke, an FBI Special Agent in Charge in Phoenix, confirmed the arrest. He stressed that there was no evidence linking Callella directly to Nancy Guthrie’s case. Janke described Callella’s actions as those of a total imposter attempting to profit from the situation.
The public is awaiting more information as the case unfolds. El-Balad will provide updates on any further developments regarding Nancy Guthrie and the legal actions against Derrick Callella.
