California Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Nancy Guthrie’s Family Fake...

Skip to main content July 2, 2026 Nancy Guthrie, the mother of 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted on Jan. 31. from her Arizona home. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images A man from Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty on Thursday to sending a fake ransom note to the family of Nancy Guthrie amid a desperate search for the 84-year-old woman. In his plea, Derrick Callella, 42, admitted that he called and sent text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026, regarding a bitcoin transfer. He also said that he intended to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person’s disappearance, per a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted on Jan. 31. from her Tucson, Arizona, home. Nancy is believed to have been taken from her home against her will, as the FBI released photos of a masked assailant approaching her front door in the middle of the night. Police have detained several persons of interest but have not charged anyone. The Los Angeles Times reported that per a criminal complaint, Callella used a voice over internet protocol text and call application to contact the Guthrie family a few days after Nancy’s disappearance. “Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” read a message sent to at least two family members, according to the filing in Arizona. Authorities linked the phone number to Callella’s email address and residence, per the complaint, and he later admitted to sending the two text messages. Trending Stories Madonna Finds a Nonstop Groove on Her Best Album in 20 Years Tim Heidecker Takes Alex Jones' Seat in InfoWars Premiere: 'This Is a New Dawn' T.I. and Tiny Awarded $0 in Punitive Damages at OMG Girlz Trial, Jury Decides Lil Wayne Apologizes After Failing to Appear at His Own Concert: ‘I’m So Sorry’ Callella faces a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and one year of supervised release. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2026. The FBI’s Phoenix office said Wednesday that while some of the notes “have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” other ransom demands were potentially “legitimate.” The office stated on X that the “case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case.” Ashley Tisdale's 'Toxic Mom' Drama Is Getting Turned Into a Comedy: 'We Can All Be a Little Toxic' Art Imitates Life Charisma Madarang Questlove Has Yet Another New Job: Talk Show Host Talking a Big Game After Being Shelved, ‘Murder of JonBenét Ramsey’ Series Is Back On Coming Soon Jaeden Pinder ‘The Passion of the Christ’ to Return to Theaters ‘New Restoration’ Althea Legaspi Danny Glover Reveals Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnosis: ‘I Can Live With It’ Go to PMC.com Most Popular Daveigh Chase, Voice of Lilo in 'Lilo & Stitch,' Died of AIDS Michael J. Fox and Creator of Nickelodeon Green Slime Recognized in Order of Canada List How to Score a Free Designer Fragrance Dupe During Bath & Body Works’ Early 4th of July Sale For Germany, a World Cup Knockout Will Bring a New Jersey You might also like Madonna’s Dance Floor-Dominating ‘Confessions II’ Is Her Best Album in Decades: Album Review 3 hours ago Viral Video of 2 Dads Dancing with Toddler on Vacation Prompts TikTok Response 5 hours ago Taylor Swift’s Rehearsal Dinner: Selena Gomez Glitters in Diamonds, Gigi Hadid and More Guests Arrive on the Down Low 38 minutes ago There Will Never Be Another ‘Cannibal Holocaust’ — and Now It’s Screening in Its Definitive Edition 3 hours ago U.S. Denies Asylum to Serbian Soccer Player Beat Up by Hooligans 5 hours ago Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved. Powered by WordPress.com VIP