Annie Guthrie and husband Tommaso Cioni were the ones who received imposter Derrick Callella’s ransom text messages after Nancy Guthrie went missing.
According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly on Thursday, February 5, Annie and Cioni both received text messages from Callella after the Guthrie family — which includes Annie, Camron and Savannah Guthrie — made an emotional video addressing Nancy’s disappearance.
Callella, who is from Hawthorne, California, was arrested on Thursday and charged with transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce without disclosing his identity and utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person.
“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a press release. “This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke also shared, “To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”
Both messages allegedly read, “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the translation.”
Nancy, who lives in Tucson, was reported missing by her family on Sunday, February 1, after a friend noticed that she did not attend church that morning. Nancy, 84, was last seen on Saturday, January 31. Police believe that Nancy was abducted due to evidence found at her home and her mobility issues.
“Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow, something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit,’” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos exclusively shared with Us on Monday, February 2. “We’re gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it’s a search-and-rescue mission and we find her and she’s safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn’t look at what’s in front of us and go, ‘We need to act.’”
Amid the ongoing search for Nancy, Savannah and her siblings made an emotional video pleading for their mother’s safe return.
“On behalf of our family we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy. We feel them and we continue to believe that she feels them too,” Savannah said in a Wednesday, February 4, Instagram video while sitting alongside Annie and Camron. “Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She is funny, spunky and clever. She has grandchildren who adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see.”
The family also acknowledged the reports of an alleged ransom note.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” Savannah said. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
The FBI subsequently joined the investigation, and is offering a $50,000 reward for information about Nancy’s whereabouts. On Thursday, it was revealed that there was an arrest for an “imposter” ransom demand.
“We have made one arrest related to an imposter ransom demand, and a complaint will be presented to a magistrate judge later today,” Janke said during a press conference. “You will get more on that from the FBI and our U.S. Attorney’s office here in Arizona when it becomes available.”
Janke also shared some details about the note including a 5 p.m. deadline.
“First, I think [it] was 5 p.m. today, and then it had a second deadline after that,” he said. “So we are continuing in a normal kidnapping case, there would be contact by now trying to discuss that. But those are the time frames we’re looking at as we move forward.”
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