Federal prosecutors have named a man accused of sending ransom-related text messages to members of Nancy Guthrie’s family after her disappearance Sunday.
A criminal complaint lists Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old California man, as the person who allegedly texted Nancy Guthrie’s daughter and son-in-law asking about the bitcoin payment demanded in ransom notes sent to local TV stations.
But Callella has not been linked to that original Monday ransom demand, the complaint says.
“Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie posted a video to social media with her siblings on Wednesday, asking their mother’s kidnappers to contact them.
According to the complaint, Savannah Guthrie’s sister and brother-in-law received a text message from an unknown number shortly after: “Did you get the bitcoin were waiting on our end for the transaction.”
The complaint says law enforcement tracked the number to an internet application allowing users to create phone numbers separately from those assigned by their wireless carriers. An emergency disclosure request revealed the IP address where the number had been created. Filing another request to the local internet provider, law enforcement tracked it to Callella’s house in Hawthorne, Calif., the complaint says.
The complaint says Callella admitted to sending the texts and creating the phone number and that “he was trying to see if the family would respond” after following the case on TV.
Callella faces federal charges of transmitting a request for ransom and of anonymously using a telecommunications device to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
The criminal complaint was signed by a representative of the Federal Bureau of Investigation whose name was redacted.
“This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California,” wrote U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine in a press release.
“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,” wrote FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke.
Note: this story was updated to clarify Callella's age and city of residence.
