Nearly five months after her disappearance, the case of Nancy Guthrie - mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie - took a significant turn this week, with new developments in both the courthouse and the investigation.
The Callella Trial: Postponed
Derrick Callella, the California man charged with sending a bogus ransom demand to the Guthrie family, was scheduled to stand trial at the federal courthouse in Tucson on June 23.
However, a motion to continue was granted, and a change of plea hearing has now been set for July 2.
Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, had been charged with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce without revealing his identity and using a telecommunications device with intent to harass.
He allegedly sent text messages to Guthrie family members on February 4 asking whether they had received Bitcoin. Investigators quickly determined he was acting as an imposter with no connection to the actual abduction.
The Bigger Development: Investigators Believe the Real Notes Were From the Abductors
Separate from the Callella case, a far more significant development emerged this week from the actual investigation.
Investigators now believe that two ransom notes sent to media outlets in the days after Nancy Guthrie's disappearance were likely sent by the person or group of people who actually abducted her.
The first note, sent on February 2, demanded millions in bitcoin and contained highly specific details about Guthrie's home - including that an Apple Watch with a white band was on the floor of her bedroom and that her back porch light was broken.
The second note, sent on February 6, indicated that Nancy had died, and that those responsible did not mean for her to die.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department declined to comment on the reports, but confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing, with the FBI and sheriff's detectives continuing to follow up on leads.
On June 23, an emotional Savannah Guthrie addressed the developments on the Today show, saying she had no comment on the story and was not involved in the network's coverage of her own family's case.
Authorities have not officially confirmed the contents of the notes. The FBI tip line remains open at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward, in addition to the FBI's reward of up to $100,000, for information leading to her recovery or an arrest.
The family, the search teams, and the many who have followed this case continue to hold on - and to pray.
Related Article: Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Claimed She Was Already Dead: FBI Says It Was Likely From Her Abductor
