The California man arrested on suspicion of making a demand for ransom in the Nancy Guthrie case made an initial appearance Thursday in federal court.
According to a news release 42-year-old Derrick Callella of Hawthorne, Calif., is charged with transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person.
Callella is alleged to have sent the demands via two text messages to the Guthrie family on Feb. 4. He is also alleged to have made a 9-second phone call to a family member.
Investigators discovered Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation, the news release said.
