Federal authorities arrested Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old Torrance resident and former Los Angeles County employee, on February 5, 2026, charging him with transmitting a ransom demand related to a kidnapped person and making anonymous interstate communications to harass or threaten. The arrest follows text messages sent to Nancy Guthrie’s daughter Annie Guthrie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, pressing for Bitcoin payments in what investigators describe as a blatant imposter scheme unrelated to the actual investigation into Nancy’s suspected abduction from her Tucson home on January 31.
The messages arrived shortly after the Guthrie family released an emotional Instagram video pleading for Nancy’s safe return, with content such as “Did you get the bitcoin we’re waiting on our end for the transaction?” Callella later admitted to FBI agents that he sourced the family’s contact details from a cyber website and had obsessively followed media updates on the case. He claimed his intent was simply to “see if the family would respond,” according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona. A nine-second phone call to an unidentified family member was also traced to him. Investigators linked the communications to a virtual phone number tied to an email account in Callella’s name, with IP addresses tracing back to his California address.
This secondary crime unfolded against the backdrop of the ongoing primary investigation into Nancy’s disappearance, which remains without a publicly named suspect. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reiterated at a February 5 press briefing that the imposter texts are entirely separate from a more credible ransom note delivered to media outlets, which contained specific case details and demanded millions in Bitcoin by deadlines of February 5 and February 9. The FBI continues to treat Nancy’s case as a possible forced abduction, supported by crime-scene evidence: blood droplets trailing from the entryway, drag marks indicating unwilling removal, signs of forced entry, and the home security system deactivated at exactly 12:38 a.m.—a blackout suggesting someone with intimate knowledge of the setup. Nancy’s phone, wallet, and keys remained inside, inconsistent with voluntary departure, while her reliance on daily medications and limited mobility heightens fears for her survival.
Callella’s criminal history adds a layer of outrage to the case. In October 2025, he was among 13 former Los Angeles County employees indicted by the LA County District Attorney’s Office in a major unemployment insurance fraud conspiracy. Prosecutors alleged the group fraudulently obtained more than $430,000 in benefits from the California Employment Development Department between 2020 and 2023 while employed full-time by the county. Callella, who worked as an intermediate clerk in the Department of Health Services, faced one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor for allegedly stealing $9,984 in benefits from May 2020 to January 2022. He attended a preliminary hearing in that matter on February 4—the day before his federal arrest in Hawthorne by an FBI SWAT team.
The timing and nature of Callella’s actions have provoked strong public condemnation. Federal officials emphasize that his opportunistic exploitation is unconnected to the genuine abduction, serving only to compound the family’s trauma. The FBI’s lead investigator, Heith Janke, confirmed the imposter demand bears no relation to the authentic ransom note still under active review for credibility and potential leads. A $50,000 reward remains in place for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the identification and arrest of those responsible.
The Guthrie family—Savannah, Annie, Cameron, and extended relatives—has continued cooperating fully with investigators while maintaining public appeals for Nancy’s safe return. “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive,” Savannah stated in their viral video. Authorities have mobilized extensive resources, including K-9 units, helicopters, and digital forensics teams, to follow leads from the scene: the blood trail, drag marks, removed Ring doorbell camera, and the precise timing of the security system blackout, which points to insider knowledge of codes, placement, and vulnerabilities.
The case has drawn nationwide attention, with President Trump publicly offering federal support and directing agencies to assist. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have engaged directly, underscoring the priority placed on resolving the disappearance of an elderly woman with known health vulnerabilities. Community vigils persist at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, where Nancy was a devoted member, while neighbors in the quiet Catalina Foothills subdivision remain shaken by the breach of security in their affluent area.
Callella’s arrest represents swift justice in one facet of the ordeal but provides no solace in the search for Nancy herself. The FBI urges the public to submit any credible tips while refraining from speculation that could impede progress. As the investigation enters its sixth day, every passing hour intensifies the urgency for Nancy’s safe return and the hope that answers will soon emerge from the shadows surrounding her home.
This episode exposes a grim reality in high-profile cases: genuine tragedies inevitably attract opportunists seeking to profit from despair. Callella’s exploitation—texting a grieving family with fake demands while already facing theft charges—serves as a stark reminder of how quickly predators can surface in the wake of public pain. For the Guthries, the focus remains laser-sharp: bringing Nancy home alive. The capture of one imposter removes a small source of torment, yet the larger mystery endures, leaving a nation holding its breath for the breakthrough that reunites an 84-year-old grandmother with the family fighting tirelessly for her.
