As the clock ticks on a real-life nightmare, a disturbing new chapter has emerged — exposing the man accused of preying on a family’s darkest hour.

Derrick Callella, a Los Angeles man in his mid-forties, was arrested and charged on Thursday after allegedly sending fake ransom texts and placing calls to the distraught family of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, exploiting the terror surrounding the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Authorities say Callella’s actions were not a misunderstanding or a misguided prank — but a calculated attempt to capitalize on fear.

Nancy was taken from her bed in Arizona late Saturday night and has not been located. As days passed with no answers, the Guthrie family issued a direct, emotional plea to the kidnappers, begging for proof of life as a deadline tied to what investigators believe is a legitimate ransom note quietly came and went.

It was in that moment of raw vulnerability, prosecutors say, that Callella inserted himself into the nightmare.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Arizona federal court, Callella allegedly contacted Nancy’s daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni on February 4, posing as someone with control over Nancy’s fate. The messages were brief, blunt — and chilling.

“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” one text read.

There was no compassion. No hesitation. Just a demand.

Officials say that three minutes after sending the texts, Callella placed a nine-second phone call to an unidentified member of the Guthrie family — a move investigators believe was designed to heighten panic and add credibility to the hoax.

The timing was no coincidence.

According to the complaint, Callella made contact shortly after Nancy’s children released an emotional public appeal, directly addressing whoever had taken their mother and pleading for confirmation that she was still alive.

That appeal, meant to reach real kidnappers, instead became a signal flare for someone authorities now say was watching — and waiting.

Investigators describe Callella’s alleged behavior as “predatory,” accusing him of exploiting publicly available information and inserting himself into an active crisis for personal gain. While the complaint does not specify how much Bitcoin was demanded, officials say the intent was clear: money in exchange for hope.

What makes the case particularly disturbing is that Callella had no connection to Nancy’s disappearance.

None.

No evidence places him in Arizona. No proof links him to the abduction. And yet, prosecutors say, he deliberately led the family to believe he held answers — or worse, control.

The family grew suspicious almost immediately.

Sources familiar with the investigation say the tone, timing, and lack of verifiable proof raised red flags. Rather than engaging further, the Guthries turned the messages over to law enforcement — a move that ultimately unraveled Callella’s scheme.

Using digital tracing tools, investigators quickly tracked the texts back to California. Within days, Callella was identified, located, and taken into custody.

Photos taken after his arrest show a man with a blank expression — a stark contrast to the emotional devastation prosecutors say he helped amplify.

In court filings, authorities outlined what they describe as Callella’s chilling motive: attention, money, and a belief he could exploit chaos without consequence.

“He saw an opportunity,” one law enforcement source said. “And he took it.”

The arrest comes as the Guthrie family continues to wait for answers about Nancy — answers that remain painfully out of reach.

The passing of the first ransom deadline tied to the legitimate note has only intensified concern. While investigators have not released details of that note, officials confirmed that the family has been working closely with authorities and following guidance at every step.

Savannah Guthrie has not spoken publicly since the arrest, but sources close to the family say the revelation has been both infuriating and heartbreaking.

“To realize someone would do this — while they’re still searching for their mother — it’s beyond cruel,” one insider said.

Legal experts note that hoax ransom cases are treated seriously, especially when they interfere with active investigations or deepen the trauma of victims’ families. Callella now faces federal charges related to extortion and interstate communications, with more possible counts pending.

But even as the justice system moves forward, the damage has already been done.

For the Guthries, the fake messages were not just lies — they were moments of false hope, spikes of terror, and cruel reminders of how exposed grief can make people.

Authorities are now urging the public to remain vigilant and to avoid spreading speculation that could invite copycat behavior or interfere with the ongoing search.

“This case shows how quickly bad actors can exploit tragedy,” one official said. “And how important it is to report suspicious contact immediately.”

As Nancy Guthrie remains missing, the contrast could not be more painful: a family clinging to hope, real kidnappers still at large — and a man now accused of turning unimaginable suffering into an opportunity.

In the words of one investigator involved in the case, “This wasn’t just a hoax. It was a deliberate act of cruelty.”