Man accused of sending fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case appears in court

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KPHO/Gray News) — The man accused of sending a fake ransom to the family of Nancy Guthrie made his first court appearance Friday.

Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, appeared at the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana in front of Judge Karen E. Scott for his initial appearance on two federal charges.

Callella faces a count of intent to transmit a ransom demand and one count of utilizing a telecommunications device to anonymously abuse, threaten or harass a person.

The 42-year-old was ordered to be released on a $20,000 bond, CBS News reports.

Callella was arrested this week after authorities said he posed as the suspected abductor to Nancy Guthrie’s loved ones, demanding money in the disappearance case.

Court paperwork showed that on Wednesday, the Guthrie family members got a text from a VOIP (internet) phone line.

The text read: “Did you get the bitcoin we’re waiting on our end for the transaction.”

According to investigators, the messages were sent moments after the family released a video message asking for proof of life.

Law enforcement traced the phone line and found it was registered to Callella’s Gmail account and determined the call was made from his California home.

Federal authorities said the texts have not been linked to the first ransom demand reported by multiple outlets.

Authorities said they believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Tucson-area home against her will over the weekend, with her blood being found on the porch of the house.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he has no proof that the 84-year-old is still alive, but the team is holding out hope she is “still out there.”

Friday afternoon, a second ransom note surfaced that appeared to be from the same sender or senders. Officials said the new message was being investigated by the FBI and Arizona authorities.

Callella’s next court date is scheduled for Feb. 12 at the U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona.