In the midst of the emotional toil Nancy Guthrie’s family is going through – with their 84-year-old mother missing, ransom notes and absolutely no idea how she’s doing – they’ve also received a “con artist” ransom note.
This comes as the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY co-host Savannah Guthrie, enters its 13th day.
Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old California man, was arraigned Thursday in federal court in Tucson for sending the fake ransom note. After the report, he was arrested and charged with serious crimes.
According to KOVA News, Callella sent a fake ransom note to Nancy’s oldest daughter, Annie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni.
Callella is reportedly out of custody, but is subject to various pretrial restrictions before the trial.
Read also | Suspect Nancy Guthrie: FBI releases description, allegedly blocked by evidence
What are the charges against Derrick Callell?
Derrick Callella was allegedly charged with passing a ransom note in interstate commerce. He is also accused of making a telephone call without revealing his identity to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
What are the pretrial restrictions for Derrick Callella?
The news outlet said his pretrial conditions include monitoring Callella’s electronic devices and not being able to travel except between Arizona and California and the states necessary to get from one to the other.
Callella was also commissioned nor have any contact with alleged victims or potential witnesses.
Who is Derrick Callella?
Derrick Callella is a 42-year-old resident of Hawthorne, California, who sent the “swindler” ransom to the Guthrie family.
According to the criminal complaint, as cited by KOVA News, he allegedly sent a text message from a VOIP (internet) number and made a threatening call on February 4 without revealing his identity.
“You received bitcoins, waiting on our side for transaction, (sic),” the text messages read. The report also claimed that Callella called a family member for 9 seconds.
Read also | Nancy Guthrie case: 3rd ransom emerges as FBI raises reward to $100,000
Investigators said the message was sent shortly after the family released its first public video appeal for proof of life.
Callella was taken into custody after law enforcement traced a VOIP number associated with his email and IP address in California. He allegedly confessed to sending text messages and calling the family, who are already distressed by their mother’s disappearance.
According to KOVA News, Callella said he was trying to see if the family would respond.
“Sick Distraction”: Eric Trump
Eric Trump condemned the fake ransom and responded to X by saying, “If he actually sent a fraudulent ransom during a case like this, it’s beyond cruel. Families deserve answers, not sick distractions that waste investigators’ time.”
Eric is the senior vice president of the Trump Group and the second son of US President Donald Trump.
Read also | Nancy Guthrie case: Expert points to suspect’s doorbell camera error
When did Nancy Guthrie disappear? is she alive
Nancy Guthrie was last seen alive around 9:45 p.m. on January 31 when her son-in-law dropped her off at home.
According to The Post, Nancy’s pacemaker lost contact with her Apple Watch around 2 a.m. on Feb. 1 — and investigators found both the watch and her iPhone at her home.