Nancy Guthrie latest: Derrick Callella of Torrance, California arrested for demanding Bitcoin ransom from family
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A Torrance man has been charged with allegedly demanding Bitcoin from members of the Guthrie family in the wake of the disappearance of their mother Nancy, according to a federal complaint.
Derrick Callella was arrested Thursday in Hawthorne, according to the Department of Justice.
Nancy, who is the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been abducted from her Arizona home early Sunday. No suspect or person of interest has been identified in the case, according to authorities.
Arrest of Derrick Callella
According to the complaint, Callella allegedly sent a text message to both the daughter and son-in-law of Nancy on Wednesday that said, “Did you get the Bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
The text messages were sent two days after a local Tucson media outlet received a ransom demand that listed a Bitcoin wallet address to receive the payment, according to the complaint.
They were also sent shortly after Nancy’s children published a video online asking their mother’s kidnappers to contact them, the complaint also noted.
Callella allegedly used an app to create a fake phone number to text the family, and the account was tracked to an email associated with him, according to the complaint.
He allegedly admitted to sending the text messages after being read his Miranda rights, according to the complaint.
“When he said that he sent text messages he was trying to see if the family would respond,” the complaint stated.
Callella is not linked to the Bitcoin ransom demand, according to the complaint, which charges him with transmitting a demand for ransom and intending to abuse, threaten or harass using a telecommunication device.
Neighbors in Callella’s neighborhood said they were stunned to learn of the federal charges.
“We haven’t seen him as much over the last year, I want to say, but his parents are, you know, everyone keeps to themselves, but very friendly, good neighbors,” neighbor Jessica Stark said.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke issued a warning on Thursday following Callella’s arrest.
“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,” Janke said.
Janke said any action taken on a ransom is ultimately decided by the family.
Guthrie family issues another message to potential kidnappers
Meantime, Nancy’s son Camron Guthrie issued another urgent request, pushing for proof of life.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” he said in a video message posted Thursday on behalf of the family. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”
But first, Camron continued, “we have to know that you have our mom.”
He closed the brief message saying, “We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.”
New timeline revealed
Federal agents also released a timeline of the hours surrounding Nancy’s disappearance.
She spent Saturday evening having dinner and playing games at the home of her daughter Annie. Family members brought her home just before 10 p.m.
At 1:48 a.m., her doorbell camera was disconnected. Minutes later, at 2:12 a.m., a Google Nest device detected a possible intruder, but it was not configured to record images.
By 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app had disconnected from the phone she left behind in her home. Investigators also found drops of Guthrie’s blood at the front door.
“To anyone that may be involved,” Janke said. “Do the right thing. This is an 84-year-old grandma that needs vital medication for her well being.”
ABC News contributed to this report.
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