A former L.A. County employee has been charged with attempting to scam the Guthrie family in the wake of their mother, Nancy Guthrie’s, disappearance.
Nancy was reported missing on Sunday, February 1, and it is believed that she was abducted from her own home.
Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old man from California, was arrested for sending text messages to members of the Guthrie family demanding bitcoin. Police say that Callella attempted to pose as the individual who abducted Nancy in hopes of financial gain.
Today show host Savannah Guthrie’s sister, Annie Guthrie, and Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, both received text messages from a VOIP, which is an internet phone line. It is suspected that Callella used the fake number to try to prevent the text messages from being traced back to him.
“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” one of the messages read.
It was also determined that Callella later called a member of the Guthrie family to see if he could get through. The call lasted approximately 9 seconds.
The text messages Callella sent were received shortly after Savannah, Annie, and their brother Cameron Guthrie posted a heartwrenching video online. In the video, they addressed their mother’s potential captors, saying they were “ready to talk” but would also need proof that their mother was still alive.
When federal authorities eventually traced the texts to Callella, he reportedly confessed to sending the messages.
According to court documents, Callella currently faces two different charges.
The first charge is for "intending to transmit a demand for ransom, transmitting in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any demand or request for a ransom or reward for the release of any kidnapped person.”
The second charge is for “making a telephone call and utilizing a telecommunications device, whether or not conversation or communication ensues, without disclosing his identity and with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass any specific person.”
Law enforcement continues to search for Nancy, but admit they do not yet have a suspect or person of interest in the case. Those with any information are encouraged to call 911.
