Man arrested for ransom demand in Nancy Guthrie case appears in court
- - Man arrested for ransom demand in Nancy Guthrie case appears in court
Natalie Neysa Alund and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAYFebruary 14, 2026 at 3:48 AM
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Man arrested for ransom demand in Nancy Guthrie case appears in court
A man arrested and charged with allegedly sending a false ransom demand to Nancy Guthrie's family has appeared in court for the first time.
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, was charged with sending a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and making a phone call, without disclosing his identity, with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona wrote in a news release Thursday, Feb. 12.
According to a criminal complaint, the office reported Callella allegedly sent the demands in two text messages to a "missing person's family" on Feb. 4. He is also alleged to have made a nine-second phone call to a family member.
Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UNq0inOD2934CMBhotpkog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02NTI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/14f3de19fc08f44dfd89c7cc19282e60 class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.
">“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/UNq0inOD2934CMBhotpkog--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD02NTI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/14f3de19fc08f44dfd89c7cc19282e60 class=caas-img>New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kJKxLKWFbex5cwKS3qe2BQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjM4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cec42a96f4d16093b45973eaab121d51 class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.
">New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/kJKxLKWFbex5cwKS3qe2BQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjM4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cec42a96f4d16093b45973eaab121d51 class=caas-img>
Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Ue1s5DqqfRONHFJP4Cy_5A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMzY4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c63c368a92722777e4bb832770f93109 class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.
">U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Ue1s5DqqfRONHFJP4Cy_5A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMzY4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/c63c368a92722777e4bb832770f93109 class=caas-img>
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime.""Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime.""Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TEc5UnOU0U0LFJFRxtiFQQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTY4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0868f51d586640f7f5707b3c925aaaf5 class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime.""Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.
">Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime.""Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TEc5UnOU0U0LFJFRxtiFQQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTY4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0868f51d586640f7f5707b3c925aaaf5 class=caas-img>
Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>The Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/991Q9gB7RKeltw5x1hAUdA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f3443fb847ec084bbbb86b7e79834a3d class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
The Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.
">The Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/991Q9gB7RKeltw5x1hAUdA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/f3443fb847ec084bbbb86b7e79834a3d class=caas-img>
She was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/92JoOPXug0oUgXIxaAmk6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1863b846b97bea80103958e0bee51908 class=caas-img data-headline="Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues" data-caption="
She was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026.
">She was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/92JoOPXug0oUgXIxaAmk6Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/1863b846b97bea80103958e0bee51908 class=caas-img>
1 / 29Nancy Guthrie kidnapping suspect seen in new photos as search continues
“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.
In the complaint, Callella is accused of texting "A.C. and T.C., the daughter and son-in-law of N.G." – who appear to be Annie and Tommaso Cioni – identical messages that read: "Did you get the bitcoin? We're [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction."
But "through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation," prosecutors allege.
A lawyer for Callella could not be immediately reached by USA TODAY for comment.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for 13 days after she was "taken" from her home located outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, authorities have said.
The FBI called Nancy Guthrie's case a "kidnapping" in a Feb. 12 social media post, releasing photos of a black backpack and a person the agency described as a male about "5'9" - 5'10" tall, with an average build." The image of the man was first shared two days earlier when the FBI posted footage "recovered" from Guthrie's doorbell camera.
The FBI also announced the reward has been doubled to $100,000 for any "information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance."
Contributing: Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press; USA TODAY Entertainment staff
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Savannah Guthrie mom case - Man arrested for ransom appears in court
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
