- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Hawthorne Today
By the People, for the People
Man Arrested for Ransom Demand in Nancy Guthrie Case Appears in Court
Derrick Callella charged with sending false ransom demands to the family of the missing 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie.
Published on Feb. 13, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, was charged with sending a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and making a phone call, without disclosing his identity, with intent to abuse, threaten or harass a person. Callella allegedly sent the demands in two text messages to the "missing person's family" on Feb. 4 and made a nine-second phone call to a family member.
Why it matters
The case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in kidnapping cases, where perpetrators may try to exploit the situation and traumatize victims' families. It also underscores the importance of a coordinated investigation and the public's assistance in providing any information that could help locate the missing person.
The details
According to a criminal complaint, Callella is accused of texting "A.C. and T.C., the daughter and son-in-law of N.G." - who appear to be Annie and Tommaso Cioni - identical messages that read: "Did you get the bitcoin? We're [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction." However, "through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation," prosecutors allege.
- Callella was arrested and charged on February 12, 2026.
- Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for 13 days after she was "taken" from her home located outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1, 2026.
The players
Derrick Callella
A 42-year-old man from Hawthorne, California, who was arrested and charged with sending a false ransom demand to the family of the missing Nancy Guthrie.
Nancy Guthrie
The 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for 13 days after being "taken" from her home outside of Tucson, Arizona.
Savannah Guthrie
The host of the "Today" show, whose 84-year-old mother Nancy Guthrie has been missing for 13 days.
Annie Cioni
The daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie, who received the alleged ransom demands from Derrick Callella.
Tommaso Cioni
The son-in-law of the missing Nancy Guthrie, who received the alleged ransom demands from Derrick Callella.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Derrick Callella out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in kidnapping cases, where perpetrators may try to exploit the situation and traumatize victims' families. It underscores the importance of a coordinated investigation and the public's assistance in providing any information that could help locate the missing person.
