Breaking: FBI Arrests Man for Allegedly Targeting Nancy Guthrie’s Family with Demands
A Los Angeles man was arrested by the FBI on Thursday for allegedly sending texts to the Guthrie family asking for bitcoin as a ransom to recover missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. The texts are not believed to be connected to the ransom demand that officials say was received via an online tip portal.the suspect, Derrick Callella, allegedly used a VOIP app and was identified after investigators obtained an emergency disclosure to a mobile carrier, which helped link his IP address to a California address. Callella faces two counts: transmitting a ransom demand related to a kidnapped person and engaging in anonymous interstate communications intended to harass or threaten.
The Guthrie family, including NBC host Savannah guthrie, released a video appealing for the kidnapper to come forward and provide proof of life. Shortly after the video, two members of the family reportedly received messages from Callella referencing bitcoin and the transaction.President Donald Trump said the federal government would marshal whatever resources are necessary in the search. The report cites coverage from Fox News and related social media posts.
The FBI arrested a Los Angeles man Thursday who allegedly sent texts to Nancy Guthrie’s family seeking a bitcoin payment as a ransom to return the missing 84-year-old.
Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported, “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.”
“Feds say he tried to use a VOIP [voice over internet protocol] app which they were able to quickly get around via an emergency disclosure request to their mobile carrier, then they found his IP address and linked it to his California address,” Melugin added.
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
The two-count criminal complaint posted by Melugin said that KOLD-TV, a CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, received the ransom demand via an online tip portal. Callella is charged with transmitting a ransom demand related to a kidnapped person and engaging in anonymous interstate communications intended to harass or threaten.
“The demand listed a Bitcoin wallet address to receive the ransom payment,” the complaint said.
“After Miranda warnings, Callella [age 42] admitted to sending the two text messages. He admitted to using the VOIP account from which two actual text messages came … Callella stated that he pulled the family information from a cyber website, and that he had been following along and watching TV.”
The Guthrie family, including Nancy’s daughter, NBC host Savannah Guthrie, released a heart-wrenching video Wednesday, asking for the kidnapper to reach out to them and to provide proof of life.
From Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram page pic.twitter.com/kLbjkhUCIG
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) February 5, 2026
Shortly after the video was published, one of Guthrie’s daughters and a son-in-law both separately received a text message allegedly from Callella saying, “Did you get the bitcoin [we’re] waiting on our end for the transaction.”
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the federal government will commit whatever resources are necessary in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
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