Nancy Guthrie Case: Man who sent fake ransom notes to Savannah Guthrie’s family ordered into inpatient treatment before sentencing; here’s what we know

Nancy Guthrie Case Update: A fresh update has emerged in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation. A man who pleaded guilty to sending fake ransom notes about Nancy, the 84‑year‑old mother of NBC’s Today show co‑host Savannah Guthrie, has been ordered to complete inpatient substance abuse treatment.

Inpatient substance abuse programs require patients to stay at a treatment facility while receiving care for substance use disorders, according to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. This type of program is for those who suffer with severe addiction issues or need a highly structured environment for recovery.

In February 2026, authorities arrested Derrick Anthony Callella after the FBI determined he had been sending fraudulent ransom messages to Nancy’s daughter, Annie, and her son‑in‑law, Tommaso Cioni. He has been charged with two counts of harassment involving the use of a telecommunications device.


Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty to two counts of Harassment Using a Telecommunication Device, the US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona announced on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

“In his plea, Callella admitted that he called and sent text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026, which asked about a bitcoin transfer. Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made,” the attorney's office said in a press release. “Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person’s disappearance,” it stated.

judge directs Callella to reside in inpatient substance‑use treatment facility

Callella’s conviction for Harassment Using a Telecommunication Device carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, along with one year of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026.

The judge has directed Callella to reside in an inpatient substance‑use treatment facility or a halfway house for the time being, Fox News reported. He must follow the program he enters and contribute toward the cost of his treatment as instructed by the U.S. Pretrial Services Division. If he fails to comply, the U.S. Marshals Service has the authority to remove him and place him in temporary custody. Once the treatment program is completed, Callella will be permitted to live in a residence approved by the U.S. Pretrial Services Division.

It has been more than five months since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, and investigators are still working on the case with no suspects named or arrested. Nancy disappeared in the early hours of February 1, 2026, and authorities believe she was taken from her home against her will. The FBI, which is investigating alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, recently confirmed that the case is being treated as a kidnapping for ransom.

As the search for Nancy continued, the family and several media outlets received multiple ransom notes. One of the more recent notes reportedly claimed that Guthrie had died. However, none of the messages led to her recovery or helped investigators identify any suspects. Authorities said Callella was not responsible for the ransom notes sent to the media. Those messages remain under investigation, and officials have not determined whether any of them are genuine.