Man accused of submitting ransom demand about Nancy Guthrie appears in Tucson court
A man who was arrested and accused of submitting a fake ransom note about the missing Nancy Guthrie made his first appearance in federal court Thursday.
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PHOENIX — A California man who was arrested and accused of submitting a fake ransom text message about the missing Nancy Guthrie made his first appearance in federal court Thursday, prosecutors announced.
Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old from Hawthorne, California, was charged in Tucson with “transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, (and) utilizing a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
The charges stem from Feb. 4, when Callella allegedly sent the ransom through “two text messages” and also made “a nine-second phone call to a (Guthrie) family member,” prosecutors said.
The federal court overseeing his appearances and the FBI said it will hold Callella and anyone else accountable who attempts to interfere with the investigations into Guthrie’s disappearance.
Latest on disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
FBI Phoenix revealed new information Thursday about the suspect connected with the disappearance of Guthrie in Tucson and said it has doubled the reward for those who help locate the 84-year-old.
Forensic analysis of Guthrie’s doorbell camera footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division confirmed the suspect is male, has an “average build” and is between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10.
He was also seen wearing a “black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack,” according to the FBI.
Whoever informs the FBI with information that leads to the recovery of Guthrie will be eligible for a $100,000 reward, which is double the original $50,000 being offered.
A person can call 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips to tips.fbi.gov.
Authorities confirmed Thursday that gloves are among the new evidence collected as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Guthrie.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) also mentioned “several items,” although it did not specify what they were. As part of standard procedure, the evidence will be submitted for analysis.
The department said there will be a higher presence of law enforcement activity in the area going forward as it continues investigating leads.
Guthrie was last seen on Jan. 31, when she was dropped off at her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills. Investigators believe she was taken against her will sometime between 9:45 p.m. that night and late the next morning.
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Comments
1 Comments
The ONLY way imposters like Derrick Callella and hundreds of others will ever learn their lesson,... is to treat them like real suspects and provide them with the same punishment as a Real Kidnapper would get 20-30yrs, LIFE, or a Shooting Squad if Ms. Guthrie is found deceased. Maybe Derrick is in cahoots, who really knows?