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A recent arrest in California is not believed to be linked to ransom letters sent to media organizations earlier this week.
Federal agents have taken Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old man, into custody in California in relation to an “imposter ransom demand” concerning the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
As reported by The National News Desk, Callella faces charges for violating two federal laws pertaining to making a ransom demand via interstate commerce.
During a Thursday press briefing, FBI Agent Heith Janke stated that investigators do not believe Callella’s communications, sent Wednesday to Savannah Guthrie’s sister, Annie Guthrie, and her brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, are connected to the ransom notes received by media outlets on Monday. These letters, according to CrimeOnline, demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
The criminal complaint reveals that Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni received a text on Wednesday stating, “Did you get the bitcoing were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
BREAKING: A Los Angeles man named Derrick Callella has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly sending texts to the Guthrie family to ask for bitcoin and see if they would respond. His text messages are *not* believed to be connected to the ransom demand.
How they caught him &… pic.twitter.com/BrPjcgYHxt
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 5, 2026
Investigators traced the number that sent those messages to a voice over internet protocol app and found the number was registered to derrickcallella@gmail.com. They were also able to track it to an internet provider address associated with Callella’s home in California.
Callella admitted sending the text messages to both Annie Guthrie and Cioni and to making a 9-second phone call to one of the family members after sending the texts.
Janke said during Thursday’s news conference that the ransom letters sent to media outlets included two deadlines — the first for 5 p.m. Thursday and the second for sometime on Monday. He said that federal agents would advise family members regarding those letters but that “any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family.”
Savannah Guthrie, her sister, and her brother released video Wednesday night on Instagram in which they said they were “ready to talk” but “need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Investigators have not said whether they have been able to authenticate the ransom demand, and there have been no known responses to the Guthries’ video.
Janke also announced a $50,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of anyone associated with Nancy Guthrie’s abduction.
Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area outside Tucson shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday and was reported missing by family around noon on Sunday.