The message landed like a threat, brief and chilling — and for a family already living in fear, it felt like the worst possible confirmation.
According to court documents, a California man has now been charged after allegedly sending ransom-style texts to relatives of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, whose disappearance has shaken Tucson and drawn national attention due to her daughter, journalist Savannah Guthrie.
What investigators uncovered was not an organized ransom scheme — but something, in its own way, just as disturbing.
The Text That Stopped the Family Cold
Federal prosecutors say Derrick Callella, a man in his mid-40s from California, allegedly sent a message referencing bitcoin to members of the Guthrie family shortly after they made a public plea for help.
The message reportedly read:
“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
Minutes later, authorities say he placed a nine-second phone call to another family member.
The timing intensified the panic. At that point, the family had already addressed reports of a ransom note and had publicly pleaded for proof of life.
The texts were immediately reported to law enforcement. Investigators traced the number to Callella’s California residence.
An Unexpected Admission
According to the criminal complaint, when authorities arrived at his home, Callella allegedly admitted to following the case on television.
He reportedly told officers he located the family’s contact information online and sent the message to “see if the family would respond.”
Prosecutors say he has been charged with two federal counts related to transmitting ransom-style communications under federal statutes.
Investigators have also made an important distinction: his alleged messages are not connected to the separate ransom note reportedly sent to an Arizona news outlet demanding millions in bitcoin for Nancy’s return.
Even so, the impact on the family was immediate and profound.
A Troubling Name
The case took another turn when investigators noted that someone with the same name and birth year had previously been charged in a large unemployment fraud case involving Los Angeles County employees.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the outcome of that earlier matter, and no further connection has been established beyond the shared identity details.
For now, the federal charges relate solely to the alleged communications sent during the Guthrie search.
A Separate Mystery: The Motion Sensor Incident
While investigators sort hoaxes from legitimate leads, another unsettling detail has surfaced.
Weeks before Nancy’s disappearance, an elderly Tucson neighbor reported that his motion sensor and floodlights activated late at night. When he looked outside, he saw a man standing in his yard before fleeing.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the encounter occurred less than ten minutes from Nancy’s home. Detectives are reviewing the incident to determine whether it is connected.
No link has been confirmed.
What Authorities Have Confirmed
Investigators now believe Nancy was taken from her Tucson-area residence sometime between the evening of January 31 and the morning of February 1.
Key details include:
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Blood was reportedly found inside the home, though authorities have not confirmed whose it is.
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Signs of forced entry were observed.
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Her wallet, phone, and car were left behind.
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She requires daily medication, which she did not take with her.
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Officials have stressed she is cognitively sound and did not wander off.
Sheriff Chris Nanos has repeatedly stated that authorities have “no reason to believe she is deceased” and remain focused on finding her alive.
A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
A Family’s Plea
In a deeply emotional video, Savannah and her siblings addressed both the public and anyone who may be holding their mother.
“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.”
They also acknowledged reports of ransom communications but emphasized the need for proof of life, especially in an era of AI-generated content.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
The plea was not just procedural — it was personal.
“We are always going to be merely human, just normal human people who need our mom.”
A Case Still in Motion
Authorities have urged the public not to speculate and not to spread unverified rumors. No suspect has been named in Nancy’s disappearance.
The alleged text messages sent by Callella appear, at this stage, to represent a separate and opportunistic act — one that prosecutors argue exploited a family’s worst moment.
Meanwhile, the central question remains unanswered:
Where is Nancy Guthrie?
Investigators continue to review camera footage, license plate reader data, and digital evidence. Law enforcement says every tool available is being used.
If you have information, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line is active at (520) 351-4900.
The family has made one thing clear: they will not stop searching.
And neither, authorities say, will they.
