Derrick Callellathe person accused of sending a pretend ransom notice to Nancy Guthrie’s household, appeared in federal court docket in Tucson for the primary time on Thursday, February 12, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the District of Arizona mentioned.
Earlier this month, Callella, who’s from Hawthorne, California, was charged with transmitting a requirement for ransom in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications gadget with the intent to abuse, threaten or harass an individual with out disclosing his identification.
A police grievance seen by Us Weekly alleged that on February 4 Callella, 42, despatched textual content messages to Nancy’s daughter and At this time present cohost Savannah Guthrie’s sister, Annie Guthrieand Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cionidemanding a ransom fee amid Nancy’s disappearance. He’s additionally accused of constructing a cellphone name to an unidentified member of Nancy’s household, which lasted round 9 seconds.
“Did you get the bitcoin have been (sic) ready on our finish for the transaction,” Callella allegedly wrote in textual content messages to Annie and Tommasso, per the prison grievance.
Questions nonetheless stay after At this time present host Savannah Guthrie‘s mom, Nancy Guthrie, was reported lacking. The Pima County Sheriff’s Division confirmed the information on February 1, sharing a lacking particular person report through X. Nancy was described as a “weak grownup” who was final seen “at her residence” inside Arizona’s Catalina Foothills space on the night (…)
In response to the doc, Callella “acknowledged that he pulled household data from a cyber web site and that he had been following alongside and watching TV” information reviews about Nancy’s February 1 disappearance. Callella “was making an attempt to see if the household would reply,” the grievance claimed.
The FBI arrested Callella on February 5 after figuring out that the messages acquired by the Guthrie household have been an “imposter ransom demand” unrelated to an unverified ransom demand despatched to TMZ and native Tucson tv information shops KOLD and KGUN on February 2.
FBI Phoenix particular agent in cost Heath Janke mentioned throughout a February 5 information convention, “We’ve made one arrest associated to an imposter ransom demand, and a grievance shall be offered to a Justice of the Peace choose later right this moment. … There’s no proof to attach this to Nancy’s case. It was somebody that was making an attempt to revenue off it.”
“My subsequent message is to these imposters who’re making an attempt to take benefit and revenue from this example. We’ll examine and guarantee you might be held accountable to your actions,” Janke mentioned. “That is an 84-year-old grandma that wants very important medicine for her well-being. You continue to have the time to do the fitting factor earlier than this turns into a worse, a lot worse situation for you.”
Annie Guthrie and her household have discovered themselves within the highlight for a cause no person desires to expertise. On February 1, 2026, information broke that Nancy Guthrie was reported lacking in Arizona after a member of the family referred to as 911. Within the days that adopted, Annie and her siblings, who embrace Camron Guthrie and At this time present anchor (…)
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Division haven’t but verified the authenticity of the ransom notes despatched to TMZ, KOLD and KGUN. The demand letters, despatched by electronic mail, reportedly requested thousands and thousands of {dollars} be transferred to a bitcoin handle for Nancy’s secure return. Two deadlines, one on February 5 and one on Monday, February 9, handed with none transactions being made to the bitcoin handle listed. (A small transaction was reportedly detected on Tuesday, February 10, nonetheless.)
Savannah, 54, and her siblings, Annie and Cameron Guthriementioned in an Instagram video shared on Saturday, February 7, that they have been ready to pay a ransom. The At this time present cohost posted the video after KOLD reported receiving a second ransom message in reference to Nancy’s suspected abduction.
“We acquired your message and we perceive,” Savannah mentioned within the video. “We beg you now to return our mom to us in order that we will rejoice together with her. That is the one means we may have peace. That is very worthwhile to us and we pays.”
On Tuesday, the FBI launched surveillance footage and images of a possible suspect seen exterior of Nancy’s house within the early hours of February 1. The person, clad in a ski masks and sporting a backpack, appeared to tamper with a Nest doorbell digicam hooked up to the doorway of Nancy’s house.
The FBI launched extra particulars in regards to the potential suspect through X on Thursday. “The suspect is described as a male, roughly 5’9”–5’10” tall, with a median construct. Within the video, he’s sporting a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Path Hiker Pack’ backpack,” a publish shared by FBI Phoenix mentioned.