A California man pleaded guilty on July 2 to sending fraudulent ransom messages to the family of Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, but federal investigators say other ransom demands in the five-month-old disappearance case may still be legitimate.
Derrick Anthony Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, entered guilty pleas to two felony counts of Harassment Using a Telecommunication Device after he contacted Annie Guthrie and her husband Tommaso Cioni on February 4 using a Voice over Internet Protocol application to mask his identity. Callella sent text messages falsely implying he held Nancy Guthrie captive while inquiring about a bitcoin transfer. A federal judge ordered Callella to complete inpatient substance abuse treatment in a facility or halfway house ahead of his sentencing.
Federal authorities arrested Callella in February 2026 after determining he sent the fraudulent messages to the family members.
FBI Clarifies Status of Ransom Notes
On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the FBI Phoenix office issued a statement addressing confusion over the status of several ransom notes received during the investigation. “Some (of the notes) have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” the office said. “Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
The clarification came after an earlier report, citing an unnamed FBI official, claimed federal investigators had determined all three kidnapping-related messages to be fake. The FBI’s official statement did not specify an exact number of notes received, characterizing the total only as “several.” Federal investigators distinguished between notes they’ve ruled out and those still under review — a difference that could significantly affect how the case proceeds.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department officials said they treat all tips seriously and share them with detectives coordinating with federal agents, but referred questions about the ransom notes to the FBI.
Multiple notes surfaced in media reports following her disappearance. Tucson television station KOLD-TV said it received two of them — one demanding millions in cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s return, the other claiming she had died shortly after being taken. A note received by TMZ claimed to identify the kidnappers. The ransom demands included payment deadlines of February 5 and February 9. In one development disclosed earlier in the investigation, federal agents transferred a small sum of cryptocurrency to a wallet address provided in one of the messages; those funds were never withdrawn and remained untouched.
What Investigators Have Found
Retired FBI agent Steve Moore stated publicly that he believes there is “significant disagreement within the FBI investigation” over the validity of certain pieces of evidence, suggesting a split between the Phoenix field office and FBI headquarters. Moore also revealed that blood was found on the porch of Nancy Guthrie’s home.
Son-in-law Tommaso Cioni brought Nancy Guthrie to her Catalina Foothills residence in Tucson, Ariz., following dinner with family on the evening of January 31, around 9:45 p.m. She was reported missing around noon the following day, February 1, after she failed to appear for a church service online. She left without her phone or essential medications — details that alarmed investigators from the outset.
On February 10, the FBI released doorbell camera footage showing a masked, armed individual on the porch the night she disappeared. Investigators are also analyzing mixed DNA recovered from the home, including a hair sample, though no arrests or suspects have been publicly identified.
Search Efforts and Reward
Volunteers and search teams have repeatedly combed the desert terrain surrounding Tucson since Guthrie’s disappearance. A volunteer group conducted a search near the Arizona-Mexico border. Despite those efforts, no physical trace of Guthrie has been publicly reported.
Authorities are offering $1.2 million combined to anyone who provides information that leads to her recovery. The investigation remains active with no arrests announced.
Investigation Continues as Kidnapping Case
The FBI’s Wednesday statement was unambiguous on one point: the investigation has not shifted categories. “This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” the FBI said. According to the bureau, that classification affects resource allocation, agency participation, and tip evaluation procedures.
The “Today” show aired a segment on July 6, 2026, with Savannah Guthrie covering an unrelated missing-persons story, which sparked public backlash. Savannah Guthrie, who has continued to anchor “Today” through the ordeal while publicly appealing for information, has not commented publicly on the latest FBI statement. Her mother has now been missing for five months, with no confirmed sighting and no arrest.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
