Derrick Callella allegedly sent fake Bitcoin ransom texts to the Guthrie family just days after Nancy went missing. Now, nearly three months later, he is heading to federal court.
As the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie enters its 84th day with no suspect named in her abduction, one chapter of the case is moving toward a courtroom conclusion. Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California - the man arrested for allegedly sending fake ransom demands to the Guthrie family shortly after Nancy disappeared - now has a federal trial date set for June 23, 2026, at the federal courthouse in Tucson, Arizona.
What Callella Is Accused of Doing
Just four days after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson home on February 1, Callella allegedly contacted Nancy's daughter Annie Guthrie and her husband Tommaso Cioni via a voice-over-internet-protocol application - a method he apparently used to conceal his identity. According to a federal grand jury indictment, he sent two text messages on February 4 reading: "Did you get the 12 bitcoin? We're waiting on our end for the transaction."
Law enforcement traced the contact back to Callella within hours. He was arrested on February 5 and charged with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce without disclosing his identity, and using a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass an individual. Investigators later revealed that Callella admitted he pulled the family's contact information from a website he found while following the case on television - and claimed he sent the messages simply to see if the family would respond.
Federal Authorities Did Not Hold Back
The speed and firmness of the government's response made clear that exploiting a missing persons case would carry serious consequences.
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine stated that the Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs and that those who seek to profit from grief will be held accountable. FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke added a direct warning to anyone considering a similar move: anyone attempting to take advantage of or profit from this situation would be investigated and held accountable.
The case came together in under 24 hours through coordinated effort between the FBI, local law enforcement, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
What This Trial Does and Does Not Mean
It is important to note what the Callella trial does not represent. He is not accused of involvement in Nancy Guthrie's actual abduction. His charges are entirely related to the fake ransom texts he allegedly sent to her family - a separate offense from whatever happened to Nancy on the night of January 31.
The real investigation into her disappearance continues. The FBI is currently processing DNA and hair evidence recovered from Nancy's home, with a specialized forensics lab - the same one connected to the Gilgo Beach case - reportedly assisting in the analysis. A collective reward of over $1 million remains available for information leading to her whereabouts. As of this writing, no suspect has been named in the abduction itself.
A Family That Has Leaned on Faith
Throughout this ordeal, the Guthrie family has been open about how much the prayers and support of the public have meant to them. Nancy herself is a devoted member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Tucson - the very community whose members first noticed her absence when she did not appear for Sunday morning worship. When Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today show in April, she told the crowd gathered outside Rockefeller Plaza, "We feel your prayers." That simple statement reflects both the weight of what the family is carrying and where they are finding strength. For the faith community that has been interceding on Nancy's behalf since day one, the prayer continues: bring her home.
Related Article: Nancy Guthrie Case: Who Is Derrick Callella, the Man Accused of Sending Hoax Ransom Messages?
