The timing was devastating. As the Guthrie family pleaded publicly for help finding 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, a brief, cryptic text landed on their phones—referencing bitcoin and instantly raising fears of a possible ransom. The message arrived at a moment when the family was already in anguish, amplifying anxiety and confusion. Authorities were notified immediately, sparking a cross-state investigation that would reach all the way to California.
Court records reveal that Derrick Callella, a man in his mid-40s from Hawthorne, California, was taken into custody after allegedly sending the unsettling messages to Nancy’s family. Prosecutors say the texts resembled ransom-style language and were sent shortly after the family’s emotional plea for help was broadcast publicly. Investigators also report that Callella placed a brief phone call—lasting only a few seconds—to another relative around the same time, further escalating the family’s fear during an already painful ordeal.
According to the complaint, Callella admitted he had been closely following the disappearance through news coverage. Using publicly available information, he located the family’s contact details online and sent the messages out of curiosity—to see whether the family would respond. Authorities emphasize that while he faces serious charges related to transmitting ransom-related communications, these texts are not connected to a separate ransom note sent earlier to a Tucson news outlet. That note, submitted through the station’s online portal, included a bitcoin wallet address, and investigators are still treating it seriously.
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