India, Feb. 13 -- Derrick Callella, the man accused of sending a hoax ransom message to the family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, has been released from federal custody in Tucson, Arizona.

According to KOLD/Gray News, Callella appeared in federal court on Thursday, per local time, and was released under multiple conditions.

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

Federal authorities allege that Callella posed as the suspected abductor and contacted the Guthrie family while the disappearance case was unfolding. Court documents cited by KOLD state that the family received a text message from a VOIP (internet-based...