Nancy Guthrie Case: Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Fake Ransom Note

Nancy Guthrie Case: FBI Source Says 3 Kidnapping Ransom Notes Are Fake

A California man is taking responsibility for sending a fake ransom note in connection to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Derrick Callella pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, according to a July 2 press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.

As part of his plea, the 42-year-old admitted that he called and sent text messages to Nancy's family on Feb. 4 to ask about a bitcoin transfer, per prosecutors.

"Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made," the press release read. "Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person’s disappearance."

Callella is facing two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to prosecutors. His sentencing has been scheduled for Sept. 10.

Nancy was last seen by her family at her Arizona home at approximately 9:30 p.m. Jan. 31. The 84-year-old—who is mom to Today anchor Savannah Guthrie—was reported missing on Feb. 1, with police believing that she was taken against her will.

Since then, authorities said they have investigated several supposed ransom letters that turned out to be inauthentic.

"I think the FBI has done a number of arrests for false or fake ransom notes," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during the June 26 episode of local Tucson news station 1030 KVOI AM's The Buckmaster Show. "It is a shame that these types of events occur."

"People have great interest and that's good because it helps us but then it gets really abused," he continued. "People who call in fake ransom notes, people who claim for the sake of media and the family, they get out and disturb—in this case—an entire neighborhood."

An FBI official also recently confirmed that the department had looked into three messages allegedly sent from a person claiming to have information about Nancy's apparent abduction, telling Reuters the ransom notes were fake.

Don Arnold/WireImage

The FBI later clarified July 1 that while some letters were “extortion attempts” without merit, “other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”

Savannah has nonetheless been shaken by the entire ordeal.

"This is the life that my sister lives, I live, that my brother lives, that our extended family lives, that our children live every day," the 54-year-old said during Today's June 23 broadcast.  "We are in agony."

She added in a plea to the public, "This is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We're begging for your help. We love our mom and we'll never stop looking for her, ever."

For more details about Nancy's case, read on.

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