California Man Arrested for Sending Ransom-Style Messages Amid Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Investigation
When a family is desperate for answers, even a single unexpected message can trigger alarm — and that’s exactly what happened during the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie. As public concern grew, federal authorities announced the arrest of a California man allegedly sending alarming communications to the family. While the news made national headlines, officials were quick to clarify: these messages are not directly tied to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Court filings from the U.S. Department of Justice reveal that Derrick Callella allegedly reached out to Guthrie family members during the height of the investigation. Prosecutors say his texts included ransom-like language sent across state lines, and he now faces federal charges for transmitting a ransom demand and using a telecommunications device to harass or threaten. Authorities emphasized that Callella is presumed innocent, and that his communications appear unrelated to separate ransom notes previously reported in connection with the Arizona case.
The case also sheds light on Callella’s past legal troubles. Court records indicate he was already facing charges in an unrelated Los Angeles County unemployment fraud investigation, involving pandemic-era benefits and multiple county employees. While these allegations are separate, the overlap in timing drew extra attention as federal prosecutors pursued the new charges tied to the Guthrie family messages.
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