A Torrance man has been arrested and charged with allegedly sending a ransom demand to Nancy Guthrie's family in the wake of her disappearance from their Arizona home. Derrick Callella, 46, is accused of using Bitcoin as a means to extort money from the family, claiming he had information about Nancy's whereabouts.
Two days after the local media received a ransom demand listing a Bitcoin wallet address, Callella sent text messages to Nancy Guthrie's daughter and son-in-law, saying "Did you get the bitcoin? We're waiting on our end for the transaction." The messages were sent shortly after Nancy's children published a video online asking her kidnappers to contact them.
According to authorities, Callella used an application to create a fake phone number to send the text messages. After being read his Miranda rights, he allegedly admitted to sending the messages in order to see if the family would respond.
However, the FBI claims that Callella is not linked to the Bitcoin ransom demand and only charged with transmitting a demand for ransom and intending to abuse, threaten or harass using a telecommunication device.
The Guthrie family has been tight-lipped about their plans regarding the ransom demands. Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC News' TODAY show, expressed her family's willingness to talk but emphasized the need to know without a doubt that Nancy is alive and being held.
The FBI has issued a warning to anyone trying to take advantage of this situation, stating they will investigate and hold those accountable for their actions.
Two days after the local media received a ransom demand listing a Bitcoin wallet address, Callella sent text messages to Nancy Guthrie's daughter and son-in-law, saying "Did you get the bitcoin? We're waiting on our end for the transaction." The messages were sent shortly after Nancy's children published a video online asking her kidnappers to contact them.
According to authorities, Callella used an application to create a fake phone number to send the text messages. After being read his Miranda rights, he allegedly admitted to sending the messages in order to see if the family would respond.
However, the FBI claims that Callella is not linked to the Bitcoin ransom demand and only charged with transmitting a demand for ransom and intending to abuse, threaten or harass using a telecommunication device.
The Guthrie family has been tight-lipped about their plans regarding the ransom demands. Savannah Guthrie, the co-anchor of NBC News' TODAY show, expressed her family's willingness to talk but emphasized the need to know without a doubt that Nancy is alive and being held.
The FBI has issued a warning to anyone trying to take advantage of this situation, stating they will investigate and hold those accountable for their actions.
. I mean, it's clear that Derrick Callella was trying to make a buck off the Guthrie family's pain, but is sending ransom demands really gonna bring Nancy back home? 
It seems like he's just preying on their desperation. The fact that the FBI thinks he's not connected to the actual kidnapping and only wanted to see if they'd pay up is pretty shady too 
. And what's with the fake phone number trick? That's just creepy 
. I get that the family wants to know Nancy is safe, but this whole ordeal is just getting more complicated by the minute...can't we all just focus on bringing her home already? 
just reading about this ransom demand thingy... so like Derrick Callella is sending txts to Nancy's fam saying he has info on her whereabouts & asking for bitcoin 
but apparently the FBI thinks he's not even linked to the real kidnappers? 
like what's his motive tho? is he just trying to get a reaction or what? 
.
. Can't even imagine how scared and worried they must be. This is just heartbreaking - losing someone you love in the first place is bad enough, but then to have to deal with these kind of threats? It's just so cruel 
. I'm sending all my positive vibes their way for strength and courage during this difficult time 
. And to Derrick Callella, I feel sorry for him too... he's clearly struggling with some dark issues, and it's not okay to take advantage of people's pain like that 
. The FBI is doing a great job investigating and keeping everyone safe 
.