Man who allegedly texted Guthrie family about bitcoin ransom makes first court appearance
The Los Angeles man accused of attempting to extort money from the family of Savannah Guthrie through ransom text messages faced harsh criticism in court for trying to exploit the family’s distress. Derrick Callella, 42, appeared in front of a judge in Southern California, where prosecutors did not hold back in their condemnation of his actions.
According to prosecutors, Callella took advantage of a family going through a traumatic experience and saw it as an opportunity to benefit himself. Callella, who appeared unshaven and dressed in a black top with pajama-style pants, remained emotionless during the hearing, occasionally making religious gestures by crossing himself. It was revealed in court that Callella has three minor children, and his defense argued that the text messages were an isolated incident. He did not enter a plea and will be released on a $20,000 bond to his retiree mother, Michelle, who has an annual income of $35,000 from retirement and social security. As part of his release conditions, Callella will be subject to computer searches and allowed to have only one cellphone.
Callella is accused of sending fake ransom texts regarding Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 31, with blood found on her porch, a disabled home security system, and a severed pacemaker connection, leading investigators to believe she may have been kidnapped or killed.
Callella has been charged with federal crimes, including transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to abuse, threaten, or harass a person. If convicted, he could face fines, imprisonment, or both. The alleged ransom texts were sent to Guthrie’s daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, who live near Nancy Guthrie’s house in Tucson. Callella asked about a bitcoin transaction in the text messages, followed by a call to an unidentified Guthrie family member.
On the same day as the ransom text messages, Savannah and her siblings released a video pleading for proof of life from whoever abducted their mother. The family reported the texts to law enforcement, leading to the identification of Callella as the sender. Despite the arrest, the ransom requests sent to news outlets earlier in the week, seeking millions of dollars in bitcoin for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return, have not been linked to Callella.
Callella’s capture was swift, with federal agents arresting him in Hawthorne, California, within 24 hours of the investigation coming together. This is not the first time Callella has faced legal trouble, as he was previously charged with stealing nearly $10,000 in unemployment benefits while working for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. He was one of 13 county workers accused of stealing a total of $437,383 in state unemployment benefits between 2020 and 2023.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke warned against exploiting the Guthrie family’s situation for personal gain, stating that imposters would be investigated and held accountable for their actions. The case against Callella serves as a reminder that attempting to profit from others’ grief will not go unpunished.
