The message arrived without warning, and it read like a nightmare. What followed was a digital trail that led straight to a man watching the tragedy unfold on TV.
According to court documents, Derrick Callella, a California man in his mid-40s, was arrested after allegedly sending ransom-style messages to members of the Guthrie family. The messages referenced bitcoin and came as the family was desperately searching for answers.
The Eerie Text That Stopped the Family Cold
At first, the texts looked like they could be part of something far darker. However, federal prosecutors now say they weren’t, but the timing made them no less disturbing…
Derrick allegedly contacted Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, relatives of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. The texts reportedly arrived just after the family made an emotional public plea.
The message itself was brief and chilling. “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” the text allegedly read.
Only minutes later, investigators say that Derrick placed a nine-second phone call to another member of the Guthrie family. Court records do not identify which relative received the call.
The family quickly reported the communications to the police. From there, investigators traced the number back to Derrick’s residence in California.
Sheriff Chris Nanos delivers remarks on developments in the ongoing criminal investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, posted on February 3, 2026. | Source: YouTube/CBSNews
An Unexpected Confession
What authorities say happened next surprised even seasoned investigators… At his home, Derrick allegedly admitted he had been following the case closely on television.
According to the criminal complaint, he told officers he found the family’s contact information on a website. He then sent the texts simply to see what would happen. “He said … he was trying to see if the family would respond,” the complaint states.
Charged, but Not Linked to Arizona Ransom Note
Derrick has since been charged with two federal counts related to transmitting communications demanding ransom. The charges fall under Title 18 and Title 47 of the U.S. Code. Investigators were also careful to make one key distinction: His messages have not been linked to the alleged ransom note sent to an Arizona news outlet on February 2, 2026.
That earlier note demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin for Nancy’s safe return. Authorities say Derrick’s communications appear to be separate.
Still, the timing raised alarms, as the texts allegedly came shortly after Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a heartbreaking video pleading for proof of life from the possible abductor/s.
A Name with a Troubling Past
The case took another turn when investigators noted Derrick’s name matched a prior criminal record. Someone with the same name and birth year was previously charged in a large unemployment fraud case.
That individual was accused of stealing nearly $10,000 in benefits while working for the county. The scheme was part of a broader case involving 13 Los Angeles County employees.
Those defendants were charged with stealing a combined $437,383 in unemployment funds between 2020 and 2023. The current status of that case remains unclear.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks during a news conference addressing the investigation into a missing woman in Tucson, posted on February 3, 2026. | Source: YouTube/CBSNews
But just as investigators have begun separating cruel hoaxes from credible threats, a far more unsettling question has surfaced: What if Nancy’s disappearance isn’t an isolated mystery at all, but part of something unfolding much closer to home?
A chilling story from an elderly neighbor could finally give investigators the break they’ve been waiting for.
Meanwhile, the heart-wrenching plea from Savannah and her siblings, where they addressed the online rumors, has underscored just how urgent this search has become.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie in a warm embrace, posted on January 27, 2020. | Source: Instagram/savannahguthrie
A Silent Motion, Then Panic
It happened weeks before Nancy’s disappearance. A local man was settling in for the night at his home in Tucson, Arizona, when something small caught his attention: a motion sensor snapped on without warning.
Moments later, a floodlight lit up his yard. That was when he saw a man just standing there.
Speaking to TMZ, the elderly neighbor said “the loiterer” bolted and fled on foot into the night. Although nothing was stolen and technically there was no damage done, the fear lingered…
But now, it feels like something more.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the encounter happened less than ten minutes from Nancy’s home. That proximity has placed the mysterious intruder at the center of the wider investigation.
The case has since been forwarded to the detectives handling Nancy’s disappearance to see if they can find any connections.
A Devastating Absence
This whole nightmare began when Nancy failed to show up for her usual church service, something completely out of character for the beloved matriarch.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie photographed in a candid moment, posted on January 27, 2020. | Source: Instagram/savannahguthrie
Investigators now believe she was taken from her house sometime between Saturday night, January 31, 2026, and Sunday morning, February 1. Naturally, the news sent shockwaves through her neighborhood and beyond.
Neighbors describe the area as safe and peaceful. The kind of place where something like this isn’t supposed to happen. Resident, Jeff Lamie, 59, told People, “We’re in shock. This is really shocking. We just hope that she returns safely.”
Nancy Guthrie pictured with one of her grandchildren. | Source: Instagram/savannahguthrie
The Sheriff Speaks as Questions Mount
Despite growing attention and increasing pressure, authorities have not named a suspect. In a public statement posted to X, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office reminded the public that no “person of interest” has been identified and urged people not to share unconfirmed information.
But there is still hope. Officials have said they have no reason to believe Nancy is deceased, and the investigation remains focused on bringing her home alive.
Sheriff Chris Nanos echoed this belief in a statement to NBC News:
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here, she’s present, she’s alive, and we want to save her.”
Despite that reassurance, her family is only getting more desperate.
Nancy Guthrie smiling as she holds one of her grandchildren. | Source: Instagram/savannahguthrie
The Guthrie Siblings Plead for Their Mother
In a deeply emotional statement, Savannah and her siblings shared their heartbreak and determination to do whatever it takes to bring their mother home.
In a video posted on Instagram, the journalist poured her heart out, thanking everyone for the flood of prayers surrounding her mother. She shared that the family feels every bit of that spiritual energy and firmly believes that Nancy senses that overwhelming love, too.
She then described Nancy with raw, aching love, “Our mother is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. […] Talk to her, and you’ll see.”
Her sister, Annie, continued, “The light is missing from our lives.” She also spoke of her resilience, her strength, and her refusal to let life’s hardships break her spirit.
Then came the most tear-jerking part that speaks for every child around the world. “We are always going to be merely human, just normal human people who need our mom,” Annie said while reading from a script as her sister sniffled.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie posing together, posted on December 28, 2025. | Source: Facebook/Savannah Guthrie
She sent a desperate plea to Nancy, begging her mother to come home because the family misses her so much. And then Savannah began speaking again, focusing on how important it was to find Nancy as soon as possible.
Nancy Guthrie smiling in a photo, posted on May 12, 2024. | Source: Facebook/Savannah Guthrie
“Our mom is our heart and our home. She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer,” she said.
Then Savannah addressed the online rumors that had been heavily circulating in the last few days, seemingly speaking directly to whoever may have done this.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk.”
But they also made one thing heartbreakingly clear: they cannot act without proof, especially in an age of generative artificial intelligence and Photoshop.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us,” Savannah pleaded.
Finally, she closed with another powerful message to Nancy: “Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.”
Their brother, Camron Guthrie, sent their love and asked their mother to stay strong.
As of now, investigators have not confirmed if the shadowy figure caught on a motion sensor weeks before is connected to Nancy’s disappearance. What is clear is that the case remains active, and the pain of not knowing anything about her continues to grow by the day.
What We Know So Far
Nancy was last seen Saturday night at her Tucson residence. According to the Los Angeles Times, when investigators later examined the home, law enforcement sources said they found blood inside the house.
Authorities have not determined whose blood was found, and officials have not said whether Nancy was injured.
An exterior view of the home of Nancy Guthrie in Catalina, Arizona, as shown in a video posted on February 4, 2025. | Source: YouTube/Associated Press
As detectives continued processing the scene, another detail deepened concern. The sources, who were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said there were signs of forced entry, suggesting someone may have entered the home before Nancy disappeared.
Despite that, investigators found no evidence that anything had been taken. All of Nancy’s personal belongings — including her wallet, cellphone, and car — were still at the house, even with the signs of forced entry.
That contradiction is now at the center of how investigators are approaching the case.
The Search Intensifies
Chris of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) said investigators believe Nancy did not leave on her own. He also noted that she has limited mobility, making an unassisted departure unlikely.
At a news conference on Monday, February 2, the sheriff called on the public for help, asking for reports of anything out of the ordinary or any possible sightings of Nancy.
Sheriff Chris Nanos addresses reporters as investigators provide updates on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, on February 3, 2026. | Source: Getty Images
A tip line has been established, and PCSD is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for images, videos, or information leading to the arrest of those responsible for her disappearance. “We don’t need another bad, tragic ending,” the sheriff said, “we need some help.”
Adding to the urgency, Nanos also warned that Nancy’s life is in immediate danger if she does not take a certain medication she requires every day.
He said investigators are not aware of any specific threats tied to Savannah in connection with her mother’s disappearance. “We’re doing all we can to try to locate her,” the sheriff added. “Every tool we have, we will use.”
The sheriff also appealed directly to anyone who may be holding her, urging them to “just call us” and allow Nancy to be released, saying the family wants her returned with “no questions asked.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos speaks during a news conference in Tucson, Arizona. | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Savannah addressed the situation publicly on Instagram, where she asked the people to pray for her mother’s safe return home:
“thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
The remarks came as authorities outlined how their assessment of the case had changed.
As previously reported, during a press conference, the PCSD said investigators processed the scene inside Nancy’s home, leading them to believe a crime had occurred.
Savannah Guthrie poses with her mother during NBC’s “Today” show broadcast from Sydney, Australia on May 4, 2015. | Source: Getty Images
That assessment changed after investigators processed the home. “As I said yesterday, we saw some things at the home that were concerning to us. We […] do in fact have a crime scene. [..] We do in fact have a crime,” Chris stated.
The shift also heightened concern because of Nancy’s medical needs.
Why Investigators Believe the Circumstances Are Suspicious
During the press conference, officials warned that she suffers from a condition that missing that medication for 24 hours “could be fatal.”
Besides leaving without her medication, officials say other circumstances inside the home led them to believe Nancy did not leave on her own. Sergeant David Styver, speaking for the homicide team, said, “At this time, it’s still a very active investigation, and there were circumstances on scene that we believe are suspicious in nature.”
Chris said he could not disclose what those circumstances were, explaining that releasing details would compromise the investigation.
No Dementia, No Confusion, and Why That Matters
Investigators also made a point of addressing speculation about Nancy’s mental health.
David told reporters, “I want to stress to you — and it is really important — Miss Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, is of great sound mind. This is not dementia-related. She is as sharp as a tack. The family wants everybody to know this isn’t somebody who just wandered off.”
Authorities said her limitations are physical, not cognitive, which is a key factor in how they are treating the case.
According to authorities, Nancy was last seen at her home around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, when her children dropped her off and left her there.
The following morning, family members became concerned after receiving a call from someone at her church saying she was not there. That call prompted them to go to her home to check on her.
Once at the house, the family searched for her themselves before contacting law enforcement. Investigators estimate they arrived around 11 a.m. and, after realizing she was missing, called 911.
The PCSD received the call around noon and launched an immediate response.
How the Investigation Has Shifted
During the initial phase of the case, authorities treated it as a broad search operation, deploying aircraft, drones, and ground teams. That phase has since been paused as detectives concentrate on evidence, technology, and leads connected to the crime scene.
Investigators are reviewing license plate readers, community camera systems, and data from the home. They have urged neighbors to review doorbell and security footage, even if it seems unrelated.
Authorities also confirmed they have Nancy’s cell phone and are evaluating its data. When asked whether the public is in danger, Chris said there is no indication of an active threat, while noting the neighborhood will continue to be canvassed.
If you missed our previous report, the background piece below provides additional context on how the investigation unfolded and how the family has responded.
As authorities continued their work, the Guthrie family shared an earlier public statement, and the reflections Savannah shared in 2023 drew renewed attention.
Savannah Guthrie appears with her mother during an episode of NBC’s “Today” show on April 17, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
Family Response
Savannah, who is reportedly in Arizona, shared a statement on “Today” on behalf of her family, thanking the public for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. She added:
“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
Years earlier, the former attorney shared a personal reflection about her relationship with her mother.
Savannah Guthrie on Her Mother
The broadcast journalist has previously spoken about her mother’s selflessness and encouragement. During an April 2022 interview on “Today,” she reflected on how her mother supported her career ambitions.
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie on NBC’s “Today” show on June 15, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
She also recalled a moment when her mother urged her to pursue her goals, even if it meant being apart: “And that’s when she said, ‘If you can’t leave me, then I didn’t do my job right, Savannah.’ She just gave me permission to go, you know?”
She said the message was not about pushing her away: “It’s not because she didn’t want me to stay. Of course she wanted me to stay. But she’s like, ‘I’m not going to stand in the way of your dreams. I’m going to tell you, go go go go go.'”