A California man has admitted to sending fake ransom notes in the case of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, according to federal prosecutors.
Derrick Callella of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty on July 2 to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced. The 42-year-old admitted to calling and texting Guthrie’s family about sending bitcoin demands on February 4, more than a week after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home.
What Federal Investigators Found
Federal investigators determined that all three ransom notes connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are fake communications, according to an FBI official who spoke to Reuters on Tuesday. The revelation comes nearly six months after the 84-year-old vanished from her upscale home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, on January 31, 2026.
“None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” the FBI official told Reuters, speaking anonymously to discuss details of the ongoing investigation. The assessment covers two notes reported in early February and a third message sent to TMZ in late June claiming to have video evidence of the abduction.
The Charges and Sentencing
Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made and that his actions were intended to harass the family, prosecutors said. He faces up to two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, plus one year of supervised release.
Calif. Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Fake Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note https://t.co/sfofAMdXH7
— People (@people) July 2, 2026
Callella will be sentenced on September 10. The guilty plea represents the second significant development in the case this week, according to court filings.
The Disappearance and Investigation
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31, 2026, after her daughter Savannah dropped her off at home following a family dinner. Surveillance footage captured an armed, masked figure tampering with her security camera before she disappeared.
Authorities discovered signs of a struggle inside the home, including blood in the hallway and a broken lamp. Law enforcement has kept many details private to avoid compromising the investigation, but a $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to Nancy’s safe return or the arrest of those responsible.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI continue to treat the case as a kidnapping for ransom, with investigators analyzing mixed DNA evidence. No arrests have been made, and Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts remain unknown.
This story has been updated. CNN’s legal and investigative teams contributed to this report.