A California man accused of sending a fake ransom message to the family of Nancy Guthrie was released from federal custody in Tucson on Thursday. Derrick Callella, 42, is charged with transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass.
Callella did not respond to questions from 13 News reporter Katherine Patterson as he exited the federal courthouse in Tucson following his Feb. 12 appearance.
The FBI said Callella, who is from Hawthorne, California, texted two of Guthrie’s family members on Feb. 4 and also placed a nine-second phone call to one of them.
Investigators report that Callella sent the messages to Guthrie’s oldest daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.
Court records state that Callella used a VOIP, or internet-based, phone line to send the message, “Did you get the bitcoin (we’re) waiting on our end for the transaction.”
Authorities said the text messages were sent moments after the Guthrie family released their first public video message to the alleged kidnappers, requesting proof of life.
Law enforcement traced the phone line to Callella’s registered Gmail account, concluding that the call originated from his home.
The messages associated with Callella, according to officials, have no connection to the initial ransom demand that various media outlets, including KOLD 13 News, have reported.
Callella was released under several conditions, including that he refrain from contacting any victims or witnesses and that authorities monitor all of his electronic devices.
He previously appeared in federal court in California on Feb. 6 after his arrest and was held at the time on a $20,000 bond.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported last week that the texts were allegedly sent by Derrick Callella and were intended to see whether the family “would respond,” Mediaite reported.
Melugin emphasized that the messages are not believed to be connected to the primary ransom demand tied to Guthrie’s disappearance.
In a post on X, Melugin said federal investigators determined Callella used a VOIP application to send the messages, but were able to identify him through an emergency disclosure request to his mobile carrier, which led them to his IP address and California residence.
According to the criminal complaint, Callella sent the text messages on or about Feb. 4 “with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass any specific person.”
The New York Post reported that Callella, who is in his mid-40s, allegedly texted Guthrie’s daughter Annie and her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni about the missing woman.
Last week, Today show host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a video publicly pleading for the safe return of their 84-year-old mother.
At a press conference in Arizona last week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that one individual had been arrested earlier that morning for allegedly writing a fraudulent ransom message for financial gain.
Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division, issued a warning to others attempting to exploit the situation.
“My next message is to those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation,” Janke said. “We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”
Also, last week, TMZ reported on an unverified ransom letter the outlet said it received earlier in the week.
TMZ editor Harvey Levin said federal authorities disclosed additional information about the letter during Thursday’s briefing.
“So, the FBI just revealed some things about the letter we received that we have not talked about yet,” Levin said. “That second deadline is Monday — they’ve just announced that as well. We’re not going to say what gets triggered on each deadline, but the first one, the demands change, and the second one is much more serious.”