Derrick Callella, 42, from Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty on July 2, 2026, to sending fake ransom notes and harassing the family of Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson-area home earlier this year [1, 2, 3]. Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today Show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on January 31 near Tucson, Arizona [1, 2, 3]. Blood identified as Guthrie’s was found on the front porch of her residence [1, 2].
On February 4, Callella sent text messages to Guthrie’s relatives demanding bitcoin ransom payments, using spoofed phone numbers to hide his identity [1, 2, 3]. Federal prosecutors said, "Through the course of the investigation, it was found that Callella was acting as an imposter, trying to take advantage of the ongoing situation" [3].
A ransom demand sent to local media on February 2, which also requested bitcoin payment, remains under FBI investigation and has not been linked to Callella [1, 2, 3]. The FBI continues to investigate the kidnapping and has received other ransom notes, some considered potentially legitimate [1, 2, 3].
Callella pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment by telecommunications device. He faces up to two years in prison or a $250,000 fine [1, 2, 3]. Under a plea deal, he is expected to receive five years of probation instead. A US Attorney’s Office spokesperson said, "The plea agreement with prosecutors calls for Callella, a resident of Hawthorne, California, to serve five years on probation" [2].
Formal sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
