Authorities shared that an individual has been arrested and accused of falsifying a ransom note connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

FBI agent Heith Janke; Savannah Guthrie and her mother Nancy Guthrie.Credit : Don Arnold/WireImage

An arrest has been made related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. Authorities said that an arrest was related to a false ransom note pertaining to Nancy’s whereabouts.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference to relay the latest information about the case, five days after the mother of three vanished from her Arizona home.

FBI Agent Heith Janke shared that while the local authorities and the FBI are both looking into ransom notes related to Nancy’s disappearance, they have arrested one individual who is accused of crafting a fake ransom note.

The arrest took place the morning of Feb. 5.

“We have made one arrest related to an imposter ransom demand, and a complaint will be presented to a magistrate judge later today,” Janke said.

Janke urged members of the public to avoid taking advantage of the situation, noting that they will be prosecuted.

“My next message is to those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation,” Janke said. “We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions.”

Sheriff Chris Nanos answers a question at a press conference on Feb. 3.Jan Sonnenmair/Getty

A ransom note currently being investigated by authorities is one that was sent to members of the media earlier this week. The false ransom note had not been seen by the media, according to the FBI.

“We believe there’s no evidence to connect this to Nancy’s case,” Janke said. “It was someone that was trying to profit from it, a total imposter.”

In a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, it named Derrick Callella as the defendant, citing two violations. One violation related to the intent to “transit a demand for ransom” and the second was for using a telecommunications device “without disclosing his identity and with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass any specific person.”

The complaint stated that Callella sent text messages to Nancy’s daughter Annie and Annie’s husband. The text allegedly said: “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction.”

Callella admitted to sending the texts, the complaint states. He also said he pulled the family’s information from a “cyber site” and admitted that he “had been following along and watching TV.” Records showed he also called a family member of Nancy’s which lasted for nine seconds.

Authorities also shared during the press conference that there has been “no contact” by potential abductors to the Guthrie family since the ransom note went to the media.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that there are still currently no suspects or persons of interest who have been identified in the case.

During the conference, Janke announced that a $50,000 reward is being offered for anyone who comes forward with information leading to a recovery of Nancy or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nancy was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31 at her home in Tucson, Ariz. and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department believes she was taken against her will. She was reported missing by family around noon the next day after she did not show up for a church service.

Several days after Nancy was reported missing, a source told PEOPLE that blood was found at her home, and on Feb. 5, Sheriff Nanos confirmed that the blood belongs to Nancy.

Nanos told PEOPLE on Monday, Feb. 2 that Nancy’s “physical mobility was quite limited for a variety of reasons,” and that it is highly unlikely that she wandered off, despite her mental acuity.

“She is really just as sharp as a tack,” Nanos said. “And that too is concerning that here you have this lady who’s got all her wits about her, she knows what’s going on. So yeah, somebody came into that home, and I believe took her out there without her permission. It was against her will.”

In a Feb. 4 interview with NBC’s Liz Kreutz for the Today show, Nanos called the case a “race against time,” noting that he hopes “that window hasn’t closed.”

Savannah, 54, did not appear on the Today show this week as she and her family are in Arizona as the search for her mother continues. Amid the investigation, she also pulled out of 2026 Winter Olympics coverage for NBC, PEOPLE confirmed.

Chris Nanos; Savannah Guthrie and her siblings.Jan Sonnenmair/Getty; Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

On Monday night, the journalist took to Instagram, urging her followers to “please pray” for her mother’s safe return. In a video shared Wednesday, Savannah and her two siblings spoke directly to their mom.

“Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman,” Savannah said. “You are God’s precious daughter, Nancy. We believe and know that even in this valley He is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. People are encouraged to call 88-CRIME or 520-882-7463. All calls remain anonymous. They can also use the mobile app P3TIPS or visit 88crime.org.