(Warning: Doubtlessly Triggering Content material)
Because the search continues for Nancy Guthriethe 84-year-old mom of TODAY present co-host Savannah Guthriefederal authorities say a California man determined to insert himself into the household’s nightmare in a really disturbing means.
In line with a felony grievance filed Thursday in Arizona federal court docket, a person named Derrick Callellabelieved to be in his mid-forties, has been arrested and charged for allegedly sending pretend ransom messages to members of the Guthrie household. Prosecutors say Callella allegedly messaged Nancy’s daughter, Annie, in addition to her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioniwhereas the household was desperately trying to find solutions about Nancy’s disappearance.
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Per a number of shops which have considered the felony grievancethe textual content message was allegedly quick, chilling, and designed to terrify:
“Did you get the bitcoin have been (sic) ready on our finish for the transaction.”
Simply three minutes after these texts went out, authorities say knowledge reveals Callella allegedly additionally positioned a nine-second cellphone name to a different, unidentified member of the Guthrie household. It’s laborious to even think about the emotional influence of receiving one thing like that whereas already residing in concern for a liked one’s security.
What makes this even darker is the timing. The grievance states the messages got here shortly after Savannah and her siblings launched an emotional public video pleading with whoever may need their mom to offer proof of life. Investigators say the household instantly reported the texts to police, who have been capable of hint the cellphone quantity to Callella’s residence in California.
And right here’s the place Callella’s previous raises much more alarm bells: per the New York Put up and others, somebody with the identical identify and start 12 months was beforehand charged with stealing almost $10,000 in unemployment advantages whereas working as a county well being companies clerk in LA. That particular person was reportedly considered one of 13 Los Angeles County workers accused of collectively stealing greater than $437,000 in unemployment advantages between 2020 and 2023.
Significantly.
The present standing of that case stays unclear, however the sample is unsettling.
And now, Callella is going through two counts of transmitting communications containing a requirement for ransom in change for the discharge of a kidnapped individual.
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FWIW, per the Put up and others, authorities have not linked Derrick’s alleged messages to a separate ransom observe despatched to a information outlet demanding thousands and thousands in bitcoin for Nancy’s return.
In the meantime, for the Guthrie household, this arrest doesn’t carry solutions about the place Nancy is or what occurred to her. It solely underscores how, in moments of unimaginable ache, there are individuals keen to use that grief for consideration or worse.
Sickening OF…
A tip line has been arrange: see HERE. The FBI has provided a $50,000 reward for info resulting in the restoration of Nancy Guthrie, and/or the arrest and conviction of anybody concerned in her disappearance.
(Picture by way of USA TODAY/YouTube/Savannah Guthrie/Instagram)