TUCSON, Ariz. (TNND) — A 42-year-old California man arrested for allegedly sending fake ransom texts in connection with the Nancy Guthrie case was reportedly released from custody.
Derrick Callella made an initial appearance in federal court in Tucson, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine announced in a news release on Thursday.
Callella was charged with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce, as well as using a telecommunications device anonymously with intent to abuse, threaten or harass, Courchaine said.
Federal prosecutors alleged that Callella sent two text messages to Nancy Guthrie’s family demanding ransom on February 4.
“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” one of the texts noted, according to the complaint.
The pair of text messages were not linked to a previous ransom demand, per a complaint. Investigators also alleged he placed a nine-second phone call to a family member.
Authorities said they traced the texts to Callella’s email, which they then linked to this home. He then admitted to sending the texts using a VOIP account.
The complaint noted that Callella said he pulled family information from a cyber website, and that he had been following along and watching TV. When he said that he sent text messages, he was trying to see if the family would respond.
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 10: Nancy Guthrie’s residence is seen on February 10, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continues for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Guthrie’s possible abductors had set a deadline of 5pm on February 9 for a $6 million payment. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation,” Courchaine noted in the release.
Callella was later released with pre-trial restrictions after his court appearance, per KOLD and KVOA.
In another new development, police reportedly said DNA evidence not belonging to Nancy Guthrie or her “close contacts” was found at her home.
“DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her has been collected from the property,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told PEOPLE on Friday, Feb. 13. “Investigators are working to identify who it belongs to. We are not disclosing where that DNA was located.”
Authorities, meanwhile, released more information about the suspect in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s mysterious disappearance. They also shared images of an Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, which investigators said is a style of backpack the suspect was seen wearing in surveillance footage.
“New identifying details about the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have been confirmed after a forensic analysis of the doorbell camera footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division,” FBI Phoenix wrote on X.
“The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack. We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving,” the agency added.
This image provided by the FBI shows surveillance images at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missing in Tucson, Ariz. (FBI via AP)
FBI Phoenix also said the FBI is increasing its reward from $50,000 to $100,000 for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
During the last 12 days, the agency said investigators collected more than 13,000 tips from the public amid the search for Nancy Guthrie, who is the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
“Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement,” according to the post. “Threat Intake Examiners at the National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) and FBI personnel are supporting a 24-hour command post in which dozens of agents and investigators are assigned leads and tips to action each shift.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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