🚨 SHOCKING TWIST in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping: The guy who sent creepy Bitcoin texts to Savannah’s family… just got BOND and WALKED FREE?! 😡

He admitted sending the messages (“Did you get the bitcoin?”), but insists it was just to “see if they’d respond.” Authorities swear he’s NOT the real abductor… yet Nancy’s still missing, her meds are gone, and the clock’s ticking.

Full details:

A California man charged with sending hoax ransom demands to the family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was released on bond Friday following his initial federal court appearance, as the search for the mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie entered its second week with no breakthrough in the apparent abduction.

Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen E. Scott in the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on February 6, 2026. He faces two federal charges: transmitting a demand for ransom across state lines related to a kidnapped person, and anonymously using a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass.

According to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Arizona, Callella sent text messages to at least two Guthrie family members—Savannah’s sister Annie Guthrie and her husband Tommaso Cioni—shortly after the family released an emotional Instagram video on February 4 pleading for contact from Nancy’s captor and proof she was alive. One message read: “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.” Another reportedly followed up with a phone call to a family member.

Investigators traced the anonymous texts and call to Callella through his associated Gmail account and phone line. When FBI agents executed a search at his California residence, he allegedly confessed to sending the messages, stating he obtained the family’s contact information from an online source and was monitoring news coverage of the case. Prosecutors described the actions as an attempt to exploit the family’s distress for personal gain.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke announced the arrest on February 5, emphasizing that Callella was an “imposter” and had “no evidence” linking him to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson on January 31. “This was someone trying to profit from it,” Janke said during a press conference. Authorities continue to investigate legitimate ransom communications sent to media outlets, which included verifiable details about the crime scene and demands for millions in Bitcoin.

At the court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nandor Kiss argued for pretrial detention, citing Callella’s prior outstanding warrant for failure to appear (stemming from a 2006 misdemeanor case), possession of an identity-disguising application at arrest, and potential risks of flight, obstruction, or witness threats. Defense attorney Adithya Mani countered that the incident was isolated, Callella was a lifelong Southern California resident with three children and strong community ties, and the 2006 warrant was outdated and possibly believed resolved. Mani noted the proposed bond would be secured by Callella’s mother, who relies on limited Social Security and retirement income.

Judge Scott ordered Callella’s release on a $20,000 bond, with strict conditions prohibiting contact with victims, witnesses, or anyone involved in the case. He did not enter a plea during the initial appearance and is scheduled for arraignment in federal court in Tucson. Additional background emerged that Callella was among 13 Los Angeles County employees charged in 2025 with fraud related to unemployment benefits claims during the pandemic, though that matter remains separate and pending in state court.

The arrest provided a brief development in a case that has gripped national attention since Nancy Guthrie vanished after being dropped off at home following a family dinner. Evidence at the scene—including blood matching her DNA on the porch and signs of a struggle—led Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and the FBI to classify it as a likely forced abduction. Nancy requires daily medications, raising urgent health concerns if she remains without them.

Multiple ransom notes sent to outlets like TMZ and local Tucson stations have demanded cryptocurrency payments, claimed Nancy was alive but scared, and included insider details to prove authenticity. Deadlines have passed without resolution, and a “new message” was reported under review around February 6. The public nature of these demands has fueled expert speculation that the motive may involve attention-seeking, obsession with Savannah Guthrie’s celebrity status, or something beyond pure financial extortion.

Experts, including former FBI profilers, have described the case as atypical for traditional kidnappings, noting the lack of direct family contact for ransom and the media-focused communications. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified in the actual abduction, and officials have urged the public to submit tips via the FBI’s $50,000 reward program.

Family members, including Savannah, her siblings, and extended relatives, have maintained public pleas for Nancy’s safe return, expressing devastation while cooperating fully with investigators. The release of Callella on bond has sparked online debate, with some questioning the decision amid the ongoing crisis, though legal experts note such releases are common in non-violent federal cases without strong flight or danger evidence.

As ground searches resume in the Tucson desert terrain and forensic analysis continues, authorities stress that Nancy is believed to still be alive and that every lead is being pursued aggressively. The imposter arrest underscores the challenges of high-profile cases, where opportunists can compound family anguish, but officials reiterated it has not diverted resources from the core investigation.