A California man charged with sending an illegitimate ransom threat to family members of Nancy Guthrie is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday in downtown Los Angeles, CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS reported.
CNN has reached out to the US attorney’s office for confirmation.
Derrick Callella, 42, was arrested Thursday in Hawthorne, California, and faces federal charges related to transmitting a ransom demand and making harassing communications, court records show.
Shortly after the Guthrie family posted a video on Instagram Wednesday asking for information on their missing mother, Guthrie’s daughter and son‑in‑law received text messages asking whether they had sent bitcoin and stating the texter was waiting for the transaction, a criminal complaint said. About three minutes later, a brief nine‑second call was placed to a family member, according to the filing.
Authorities traced the phone number and, after being advised of his Miranda rights, Callella admitted to sending the messages, telling investigators he found the family’s information on a “cyber website” and sent the texts to see whether they would respond, the complaint said.
CNN is working to determine whether Callella has an attorney.
Earlier Thursday, FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said an arrest had been made in connection with an imposter ransom demand but emphasized there was “no evidence to connect this” to Guthrie. “It was someone that was trying to profit from it, a total imposter,” he said.
