FBI Joins Search for Nancy Guthrie, Makes Arrest in False Ransom Scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has formally joined the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie who disappeared from her home in Arizona early Sunday. The agency announced a reward of $50,000 for information leading to her recovery or to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance.

Authorities confirmed Thursday that an individual has been arrested in connection with an “imposter” ransom demand that targeted members of the Guthrie family but is not believed to be linked to the actual disappearance. According to a federal complaint, Tucson resident Derrick Callella allegedly sent text messages demanding a Bitcoin payment and was charged with transmitting a ransom demand and using telecommunications to harass.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that investigators continue to assume Nancy Guthrie is alive and are treating the case as an abduction, though other scenarios have not been ruled out. “We want her home,” Nanos said, emphasizing that detectives will pursue every lead until the circumstances are clarified.

Timeline of the Disappearance

Guthrie was last seen late Saturday night after family members dropped her off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, shortly before 10 p.m. She failed to attend church the following morning, and relatives reported her missing around noon on Sunday.

Data collected from home security systems and medical devices provide the only concrete timeline so far:

• 1:47 a.m. Sunday – The doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home disconnected from its network.
• 2:12 a.m. – Motion-detection software registered activity on an exterior camera, though no footage was recorded because the household lacked a subscription plan to save video.
• 2:28 a.m. – A monitoring app connected to Guthrie’s pacemaker lost contact with her phone.

Investigators also located blood on the front porch. Sheriff Nanos declined to say whether forced entry occurred or if additional cameras were damaged, citing the active investigation.

FBI Expands Resources

The FBI has dispatched additional agents and technical specialists to southern Arizona to bolster local efforts. Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said the bureau is aggregating data from financial institutions, telecommunications providers and social-media companies to construct a comprehensive digital timeline. “Every data point helps us complete the picture,” Janke noted.

The agency’s decision to join the case formally aligns with its stated policy on missing persons believed to be abducted across state lines or subjected to ransom demands. (More information on federal kidnapping statutes can be found on the FBI’s official website.)

False Ransom Demand Detailed

The complaint against Callella alleges that on Wednesday he sent text messages to both children of Nancy Guthrie saying, “Did you get the bitcoin,” and pressing for a cryptocurrency transfer. Two days earlier, a local news outlet had received an anonymous letter demanding payment to the same digital wallet address. Investigators traced the phone number used in the texts to an application account linked to Callella’s email. He allegedly admitted to sending the messages after being read his Miranda rights, stating he wanted to see whether the family would respond. No evidence currently connects him to Guthrie’s disappearance.

Imagem: Internet

Janke issued a public warning to anyone contemplating similar schemes, pledging that “imposters” would be held accountable. Decisions on whether to comply with any ransom demand remain under the Guthrie family’s control, officials added.

Health Concerns Heighten Urgency

Nancy Guthrie suffers from chronic pain and depends on prescription medication that, according to Sheriff Nanos, could become life-threatening if not taken within 24 hours. While authorities have not disclosed specifics, family members underscored her medical vulnerability in a video appeal posted Wednesday. “Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere,” Savannah Guthrie said in the message, pledging that the search will continue without pause.

Technology Firms Cooperate

Investigators are collecting footage from multiple security devices installed at the residence. A Google spokesperson confirmed that the company, which manufactures Nest cameras, is assisting law enforcement but declined to share details because the inquiry is ongoing. Authorities are also reviewing data from Guthrie’s pacemaker and other connected devices in an effort to pinpoint movements during the critical early-morning window.

Open Questions

Sheriff Nanos acknowledged that detectives cannot yet say whether Guthrie was specifically targeted or whether her disappearance stemmed from another crime. “We are covering all angles,” he said. The possibility remains that the incident involves factors other than kidnapping, though evidence to date leans toward an abduction scenario.

At present, no suspect or person of interest has been identified in connection with the apparent abduction itself. The reward offered by the FBI is intended to generate fresh leads as the investigation enters its second week.

Anyone with information is urged to dial 911 or contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.

Crédito da imagem: Pima County Sheriff’s Department / Reuters