Guthrie Disappearance Scams Grow
Police Warn Public of Expanding AI Scams, Fake Ransom Notes Exploiting Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
Anonymous
Key Points
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Derrick Anthony Callella, a California man, pleaded guilty to federal charges for sending fake ransom notes to Guthrie family; he faces sentencing on Sept. 10 and could get up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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Authorities describe a new scam element tied to the Guthrie case: an AI-altered image circulated via a truck in Tucson seeking help, alongside evidence at the scene (bloodstains) and surveillance footage showing a masked person tampering with Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera.
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The FBI released photos and video clips of a suspect dressed in all-black with a face covering captured on Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera on the night she disappeared.
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FBI officials say none of the ransom notes connected to the Guthrie case are believed to be genuine, highlighting that scammers are exploiting the investigation without credible links to Guthrie’s disappearance.
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Savannah Guthrie revealed she took a two-month leave from Today due to her mother Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, with the family continuing to appeal for public help in locating her.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department is warning the public about a wave of scams tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. The latest twist involves an AI-altered image circulating in Tucson and fake QR codes asking people to send money, according to NY Post and US Magazine.
Sheriff Chris Nanos was direct: his department will never ask the public for money in this case or any other. Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home on February 1. The case remains unsolved, with the FBI assisting local investigators. A reward of more than $1 million is available for information leading to her safe return, according to Myrtle Beach Online.
QR Codes and AI Images Target Guthrie Case Followers
The newest scam uses a QR code posted online. It asks users to scan it and send payment. Sheriff Nanos says the posts are fake. The department has also flagged an AI-altered image being spread via a truck in Tucson, purporting to seek help in the case, according to IBTimes Australia. Authorities say the image is not connected to the real investigation.
Nanos urged the public to ignore and report any posts requesting money tied to the Guthrie search. "We will never ask for money related to this case," he said, according to NY Post. Anyone who receives such requests should not send funds or scan unfamiliar QR codes.
California Man Already Pleaded Guilty to Fake Ransom Notes
The scam problem is not new to this case. Derrick Anthony Callella, a California man, already pleaded guilty to federal charges for sending fake ransom notes to the Guthrie family. He faces sentencing on September 10 and could receive up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to San Luis Obispo.
FBI officials say none of the ransom notes tied to the Guthrie case are believed to be genuine. Multiple notes demanded Bitcoin payments. Investigators say scammers are exploiting the high-profile investigation without any credible link to Nancy Guthrie's actual disappearance, according to IBTimes Australia.
FBI Releases Doorbell Footage of Masked Suspect
The FBI has released photos and video clips captured on Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera on the night she disappeared. The footage shows a suspect dressed entirely in black with a face covering. The person is seen tampering with her doorbell camera, according to Myrtle Beach Online.
Investigators also found bloodstains at the scene. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been named publicly. The FBI continues to work alongside the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Anyone with real information should contact authorities — not respond to online posts seeking payment.
Savannah Guthrie Takes Leave, Family Pleads for Public Help
Savannah Guthrie revealed she took a two-month leave from the Today show after her mother went missing in February. She has made repeated public appeals for help. The family and investigators are urging anyone with genuine tips to come forward, according to US Magazine.
The search has now passed 164 days with no resolution, according to IBTimes Australia. The $1 million-plus reward remains unclaimed. Authorities stress that real tips should go directly to law enforcement — and that any request for money, Bitcoin, or QR code payments tied to this case is a scam.
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