FBI Busts Bitcoin Gambler Playing 'Kidnap Grandma' on Arizona Ranch
KEY POINTS
- •Derrick Callella of California was arrested on February 6 for sending a fake ransom bitcoin demand to Nancy Guthrie's family.
- •Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC's Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her ranch-style home near Tucson, Arizona, five days prior to the arrest.
- •The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward and taking an additional ransom letter sent to media outlets seriously.
In a plot twist that reads like a failed Netflix heist episode, Derrick Callella of California got cozy with the FBI after sending a ransom text riddled with grammar sabotage: 'Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting?' This Emmy-worthy typo was aimed at Nancy Guthrie’s family—yes, the missing 84-year-old mother of NBC's Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Catalina Foothills ranch five days ago. The FBI dubbed Derrick a 'total imposter' at their Thursday press conference, threatening anyone else cashing in on the chaos. Bonus weird: ransom notes mentioned Apple Watches and floodlights, while the victim's doorbell camera ghosted out at 1:47 a.m.—perfect timing for a digital vanishing act. FBI’s dangling a $50,000 reward while Savannah tearfully begs abductors to call her, because even kidnappers apparently need a hotline now.
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Imagine failing at crime so hard you typo your bitcoin ransom and get caught faster than Elon deletes tweets. RIP Derrick’s mastermind career.
Nothing screams sophisticated criminal like an imposter asking for bitcoin and dropping gem phrases like 'were waiting'. Spellcheck might’ve saved you, Derrick.
Baby boomer buxoming: kidnapped grandma’s still missing but at least we’ve got ransom notes that shout Apple Watch flexes. Tech crime is evolving.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 2/5/2026 | Author: Natalie Musumeci
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