The brother of TODAY host Savannah Guthrie has made a heartbreaking new plea for proof that his mother Nancy is alive after the first deadline from a widely-published ransom letter came and went.
As per TMZ, a ransom letter was sent to them on Tuesday, which they in turn sent to law enforcement. The FBI thereafter announced an initial deadline of 4PM Thursday for when Nancy Guthrie’s safe return was to be exchanged for millions of dollars in bitcoin.
Nancy, 84, has been missing since Saturday, January 31. “We do believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will,” Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Almost a week into the frantic search, and with roughly 100 sheriff’s detectives on the case, the mystery surrounding her disappearance has only grown more baffling.
It has been reported that blood was found inside the home from where she was taken in Tucson, Arizona, along with signs of forced entry.
Earlier this week, Savannah Guthrie released a video acknowledging the aforementioned ransom – that asked for millions of dollars in bitcoin –and stating that the family was ready to talk if they received proof Nancy was still alive.
Meanwhile, the authorities have said that it’s up to the Guthries if they decide to pay the ransom demand.
The initial deadline, set for yesterday, has now passed. A second deadline, confirmed by officials, was reportedly set for Monday, February 9.
The ramifications of missing the first deadline are unknown, though hosts of “TMZ Live”, TMZ founder Harvey Levin and executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere, said on their show that the details of the demand would change. Missing the second deadline, they claim, has far more serious consequences.
In the wake of the first deadline having passed, Cameron Guthrie, Savannah’s brother and Nancy’s son, posted a video wherein he heartbreakingly confirmed that the family have still not gotten proof that his mother is alive.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” Cameron said in the video.
“We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
New reports detail that an arrest has been made in the kidnapping case, though perhaps not the kind many were expecting.
A Southern California man has been taken into custody after authorities say he sent a fake ransom message – unrelated to the one with the deadlines – to Nancy’s family.
Derrick Callella was arrested yesterday, Feb 5 in Hawthorne, California, a city just south of Los Angeles International Airport, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Federal prosecutors say Callella is facing two charges: allegedly sending a message demanding ransom for the release of a kidnapped person, and placing a phone call without identifying himself “with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass.”
According to TMZ, Callella allegedly sent a message to Nancy’s daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, that read: “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke issued a strong warning to anyone attempting to exploit the situation. “To those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI tips hotline at 800-225-5324, contact their local FBI office, reach out to the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
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