{"id":2564956,"date":"2026-02-05T19:44:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T00:44:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-fbi-arrests-man-for-allegedly-targeting-nancy-guthries-family-with-demands-2\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T19:51:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T00:51:12","slug":"breaking-fbi-arrests-man-for-allegedly-targeting-nancy-guthries-family-with-demands-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-fbi-arrests-man-for-allegedly-targeting-nancy-guthries-family-with-demands-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: FBI Arrests Man for Allegedly Targeting Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s Family with Demands"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fbreaking-fbi-arrests-man-for-allegedly-targeting-nancy-guthries-family-with-demands-2%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2564956&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>an FBI arrest in Los Angeles targeted Derrick Callella for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-indicts-new-hampshire-man-for-threatening-three-presidential-candidates\/\" title=\"DOJ charges NH man for threatening 3 candidates\">allegedly sending text messages<\/a> to the Guthrie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gender-clinic-sends-legal-demand-after-being-exposed\/\" title=\"&quot;Gender Clinic&quot; Sends Legal Demand After Being Exposed\">family seeking<\/a> Bitcoin as a ransom to return Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old missing woman. The two-count complaint accuses him of transmitting a ransom demand and engaging in anonymous interstate communications to harass or threaten. Authorities say callella used a VOIP app, and after an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/parler-worked-with-fbi-to-target-threats-prior-to-capitol-riot-company-says\/\" title=\"Parler Worked With FBI To Target Threats Prior To Capitol Riot, Company Says\">emergency disclosure request<\/a>, investigators traced his IP address to California.He reportedly admitted to sending the messages after Miranda warnings, saying he found the family\u2019s information on a cyber site and had been following the case on TV. The Guthrie family,including NBC host Savannah Guthrie,released a video asking for proof of life; later,one of her relatives allegedly received a text from Callella about the Bitcoin payment. President Donald Trump said the federal government would mobilize whatever resources are necessary in the search for Nancy Guthrie. The report cites coverage from Fox News and includes related social-media posts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The FBI arrested a Los Angeles man Thursday who allegedly sent texts to Nancy Guthrie&rsquo;s family seeking a bitcoin payment as a ransom to return the missing 84-year-old.<\/p>\n<p>Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin reported, &ldquo;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.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;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,&rdquo; Melugin added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">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.<\/p>\n<p>How they caught him &amp;&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BrPjcgYHxt\">pic.twitter.com\/BrPjcgYHxt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BillMelugin_\/status\/2019508387449561292?\">February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>The two<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-fbi-arrests-man-for-allegedly-targeting-nancy-guthries-family-with-demands\/\" title=\"Breaking: ...s Man for ... Targeting ...&#039;s Family with Demands\">-count criminal complaint posted<\/a> by Melugin said that KOLD-TV, a CBS affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, received the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-apparent-ransom-note-emerges-nancy-guthrie-disappearance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ransom demand<\/a> via an online tip portal. Callella is charged with transmitting a ransom demand related to a kidnapped person and engaging in <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >anonymous interstate communications intended<\/a> to harass or threaten.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The demand listed a Bitcoin wallet address to receive the ransom payment,&rdquo; the complaint said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;After Miranda warnings, Callella[[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/FoxNews\/posts\/pfbid0ijvBeiomDMkmfPr1ZvS91hHYrPfECXhoB9hAfTxjoMGKDMfuNn4TFr1cZBmvPuV6l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">age 42<\/a>]admitted to sending the two text messages. He admitted to using the VOIP account from which two actual text messages came &hellip; Callella stated that he pulled the family information from a cyber website, and that he had been following along and watching TV.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Guthrie family, including Nancy&rsquo;s daughter, NBC host <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/police-sources-detail-grim-findings-house-savannah-guthries-mother\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Savannah Guthrie<\/a>, released a heart-wrenching video Wednesday, asking for the kidnapper to reach out to them and to provide proof of life.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">From Savannah Guthrie&rsquo;s Instagram page <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kLbjkhUCIG\">pic.twitter.com\/kLbjkhUCIG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Steve Lookner (@lookner) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/lookner\/status\/2019220465563365580?\">February 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the video was published, one of Guthrie&rsquo;s daughters and a son-in-law both separately received a text message allegedly from Callella saying, &ldquo;Did you get the bitcoin [we&rsquo;re] waiting on our end for the transaction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/trump-gives-guthrie-family-everything-can-search-continues-deploying-resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> Wednesday that the federal government will commit whatever resources are necessary in the search for Nancy Guthrie.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> \t     \t\t\t\t\t\t     \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> \t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Los Angeles man, Derrick Callella (42), was arrested by the FBI on charges related to texting the Guthrie family and asking for Bitcoin as ransom to recover Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old who is missing.<\/p>\n<p>Fox News\u2019 Bill Melugin reported that Callella allegedly sent messages to the Guthries seeking Bitcoin and to see if they would respond; the texts are not believed to be connected to the actual ransom demand. Investigators say Callella tried to use a VOIP app, but authorities were able to obtain the information through an emergency disclosure from the mobile carrier and linked the IP address to his California address.<\/p>\n<p>The two-count criminal complaint states the ransom demand was sent to KOLD-TV\u2019s online tip portal and accuses Callella of transmitting a ransom demand related to a kidnapped person and of engaging in anonymous interstate communications to harass or threaten. The demand reportedly listed a Bitcoin wallet address.<\/p>\n<p>After being read his Miranda rights, Callella admitted to sending the two text messages and to using the VOIP account. He said he obtained the victim\u2019s family information from a cyber website and had been following the case on television.<\/p>\n<p>The Guthrie family, including Nancy Guthrie\u2019s daughter NBC host Savannah Guthrie, released a plea for the kidnapper to contact them and provide proof of life. Shortly after the video was published, one Guthrie daughter and her son-in-law received a text allegedly from Callella asking if they had received the Bitcoin and saying they were waiting on the transaction.<\/p>\n<p>President Donald Trump said the federal government would marshal whatever resources are needed in the search for Nancy Guthrie<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2564957,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Guthrie-bitcoin-demand-arrest.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[72998,70371,4201,72997,72999],"class_list":["post-2564956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-alleged-targeting","tag-breaking-news-2","tag-demands","tag-fbi-arrest-2","tag-nancy-guthrie-family"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Guthrie-bitcoin-demand-arrest.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2564956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2564956"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2564956\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2564965,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2564956\/revisions\/2564965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2564957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2564956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2564956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2564956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}