The man allegedly sent text messages to the Guthrie family after Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a video Wednesday evening.
TUCSON, Ariz. — A criminal complaint has been filed against a California resident after he allegedly sent text messages to family members of Nancy Guthrie.
On Wednesday night, “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a video pleading for the return of their 84-year-old mother after she was reported missing from a Tucson residence on Feb. 1.
After Nancy’s disappearance, a news station in Tucson reported getting a message that appeared to be a ransom demand and included a Bitcoin wallet address to receive payment.
FBI officials said Thursday the Guthrie family is willing to talk and receive “proof of life” but there’s been no contact since that alleged ransom note was sent to the media.
Court records show Guthrie’s daughter and son-in-law separately received a text message after posting Wednesday’s video that stated, “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
Law enforcement traced the text messages to a person identified in court records as Derrick Callella, who allegedly admitted to sending the messages after pulling the family’s information from a “cyber website,” records show.
After sending the messages, Callella allegedly called a Guthrie family member for a 9-second call. Callella allegedly told investigators he sent the messages because he was “trying to see if the family would respond,” records show.
The two text messages have not been connected to the alleged ransom note sent to the Tucson news station on Feb. 2.
Federal officials said the FBI arrested Callella in Hawthorne, located south of Los Angeles, and noted how the case “came together in under 24 hours.”
“To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said in a statement.
As of Thursday, the sheriff’s department has not identified any suspects in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
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