Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation continues as FBI reviews ransom notes; California man pleads guilty to fake claim

The FBI says it is still evaluating several ransom notes received after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's Savannah Guthrie, while discounting others as extortion attempts. Investigators continue to treat the case as a kidnapping for ransom, noting blood found near the Tucson home and releasing surveillance footage of a masked individual at the doorstep. Volunteer search teams have also explored areas near the Arizona‑Mexico border.

Separately, Derrick Callella, a 42‑year‑old California resident, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment for sending an imposter ransom demand to the Guthrie family. He used a VOIP number to contact family members, claiming to await a Bitcoin payment. Callella faces up to two years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a year of supervised release, with sentencing set for September 10. A reward of over $1 million remains available for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.