Annie Guthrie and husband Tommaso Cioni had been those who acquired imposter Derrick Callella’s ransom textual content messages after Nancy Guthrie went lacking.
In response to court docket paperwork obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, February 5, Annie and Cioni each acquired textual content messages from Callella after the Guthrie household — which incorporates Annie, Camron and Savannah Guthrie — made an emotional video addressing Nancy’s disappearance.
Callella, who’s from Hawthorne, California, was arrested on Thursday and charged with transmitting a requirement for ransom in interstate commerce with out disclosing his identification and using a telecommunications system with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass an individual.
“The Division of Justice will defend victims and households in any respect prices, and grief profiteers shall be held accountable,” U.S. Legal professional Timothy Courchaine mentioned in a press launch. “This case got here collectively in beneath 24 hours due to the coordinated work of the FBI, native legislation enforcement and the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Central District of California.”
FBI Phoenix Particular Agent in Cost Heath Janke additionally shared, “To these imposters who’re making an attempt to take benefit and revenue from this case – we’ll examine and guarantee you might be held accountable to your actions.”
Each messages allegedly learn, “Did you get the bitcoin had been (sic) ready on our finish for the interpretation.”
Nancy, who lives in Tucson, was reported lacking by her household on Sunday, February 1, after a buddy observed that she didn’t attend church that morning. Nancy, 84, was final seen on Saturday, January 31. Police consider that Nancy was kidnapped on account of proof discovered at her residence and her mobility points.

“One thing uncommon at that home occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, one thing’s incorrect right here. One thing doesn’t match,’” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos solely shared with Us on Monday, February 2. “We’re gonna pull all of the stops and go in any respect angles. We actually do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we discover her and she or he’s protected and sound. However it will be unjust if we didn’t take a look at what’s in entrance of us and go, ‘We have to act.’”
Amid the continued seek for Nancy, Savannah and her siblings made an emotional video pleading for his or her mom’s protected return.
“On behalf of our household we need to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mother, Nancy. We really feel them and we proceed to consider that she feels them too,” Savannah mentioned in a Wednesday, February 4, Instagram video whereas sitting alongside Annie and Camron. “Our mother is a sort, devoted, loyal, fiercely loving lady of goodness and light-weight. She is humorous, spunky and intelligent. She has grandchildren who adore her and crowd round her and canopy her with kisses. She loves enjoyable and journey. She is a loyal buddy. She is stuffed with kindness and data. Speak to her and also you’ll see.”
The household additionally acknowledged the experiences of an alleged ransom word.
“We too have heard the experiences a couple of ransom letter within the media,” Savannah mentioned. “As a household, we’re doing all the things that we are able to. We’re prepared to speak. Nonetheless, we stay in a world the place voices and pictures are simply manipulated. We have to know certainly that she is alive and that you’ve got her. We need to hear from you, and we’re able to hear. Please, attain out to us.”
The FBI subsequently joined the investigation, and is providing a $50,000 reward for details about Nancy’s whereabouts. On Thursday, it was revealed that there was an arrest for an “imposter” ransom demand.
“We now have made one arrest associated to an imposter ransom demand, and a grievance shall be introduced to a Justice of the Peace decide later at present,” Janke mentioned throughout a press convention. “You’re going to get extra on that from the FBI and our U.S. Legal professional’s workplace right here in Arizona when it turns into obtainable.”
Janke additionally shared some particulars in regards to the word together with a 5 p.m. deadline.
“First, I feel (it) was 5 p.m. at present, after which it had a second deadline after that,” he mentioned. “So we’re persevering with in a traditional kidnapping case, there can be contact by now making an attempt to debate that. However these are the time frames we’re taking a look at as we transfer ahead.”
