Nancy Guthrie Case Latest News: This morning, a California man admitted to creating fake ransom notes concerning Nancy Guthrie, the missing 84 year old mother of journalist and TV personality Savannah Guthrie. Meanwhile a former special agent from the FBI has provided a reassuring update on the probe.
Nancy Guthrie Case Latest News: California Man Pleads Guilty
Derrick Callella, a 42 year old man from California has officially pleaded guilty to creating and sending fake ransom notes. Callella has been charged with two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device.
His sentencing is scheduled for 10th September 2026, and as part of his plea deal, he must serve up to 5 years of probation. Investigators were able to catch him after realising that one of the texts was from an area code in California and tracing the number via a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software.
Nancy Guthrie Case Latest News: Full Statement From Former FBI Special Agent
Harry Trombitas, a former special agent with the FBI recently spoke about the fate of Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for over 5 months now. He claimed that being ‘sharp as a tack’, Nancy faces medical conditions which could be fatal without treatment or medication.
According to Trombitas, chances of Nancy still being alive are slim, due to her age, medical history and the amount of time since the abduction. “It just makes me really skeptical that she’s still alive”, he admitted.
Trombitas also said that the FBI investigation will continue and hope to bring Nancy back, alive and safe. He shared that “As an investigator, I wouldn’t give up, and I know the family’s not given up that she’s still alive, and our goal as investigators is to bring her back fully alive, but if not, at least be able to bring her body back to her family so that they have closure”.
Nancy Guthrie Case Latest News: All the Evidence So Far
So far, the following evidence has been uncovered in Nancy Guthrie’s case:
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The blood samples found on her porch and the surrounding street, that lead to her Catalina Hills home.
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Footage from the multiple surveillance videos that the Pima County Sheriff Department found in the neighbourhood. Police also recovered surveillance footage from some places near the 84 year old woman’s home.
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Data from a mobile app connected to Nancy’s pacemaker. The FBI noted that data was recorded till 2: 28 AM and then abruptly stopped.
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A single strand of hair that was recovered from her home.
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Signs of forced entry into her home.
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Human remains recovered near Nancy Guthrie’s home.
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Doorbell video footage from her home, which showed a masked man with a black backpack tampering with her claim.
Authorities are actively searching for this man, who is either 5’9″ or 5’10” tall and has a medium build.
Nancy Guthrie Case: Who are the Suspects?
There are no official suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, as per the latest developments. While many suspected that local fugitive Coral Michelle Smith could be a suspect, her involvement was formally ruled out.
The cops are also looking for an unidentified masked man, called the ‘porch guy’ who was caught tampering with Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera. He was carrying a backpack and allegedly tried to obscure the doorbell camera with his gloved hand and some flowers from Nancy’s garden.
Nancy Guthrie Case Investigation Update: FBI Investigating for ‘Abduction with A Ransom’
Last month, rumours emerged that the Nancy Guthrie case was upgraded from a missing persons case to a homicide case. Now, the FBI has shared that it is treating the investigation for ‘abduction with a ransom’. “This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case”, an official statement from the agency’s office read.
Meanwhile the Pima County Sheriff Department also issued a statement on the probe this morning. “Every tip and lead is taken seriously”, it said and added that all questions regarding the ransom notes should be directed to the FBI.
