On Tuesday, the sheriff's office said it had become aware of online posts and emails containing QR codes requesting money that claimed to be connected to the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance. Authorities said that they will never solicit donations or payments in connection with the case or any criminal investigation.
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department is aware of posts circulating about the Guthrie Investigation that include a QR code requesting money," the department said. "PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation."
Investigators urged the public not to send money to unknown individuals or to scan QR codes that request payment. Anyone who encounters fraudulent posts should ignore them and report them, the sheriff’s office said.
The warning comes more than five months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson's Catalina Foothills. The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department continue to investigate her disappearance as a kidnapping case, and no suspects have been publicly identified or charged in connection with her disappearance.
In entering his guilty plea, Callella admitted he called and sent text messages to Guthrie's family on Feb. 4 inquiring about a bitcoin transfer, and "he acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made," the U.S. Attorney said.
"Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person's disappearance," the statement said. Sentencing for Callella is set for Sept. 10.
The guilty plea came a day after the FBI field office in Phoenix said on X that investigators received "several" ransom notes in the course of the investigation, some deemed to be "extortion attempts without legitimacy," others being treated as potentially genuine.
As Savannah Guthrie returns to work on NBC's "Today" program, she continues to appeal for information regarding her mother’s disappearance.
The Guthrie family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's whereabouts. The FBI is separately offering up to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department.