Hawthorne, California — A 42-year-old California man has pleaded guilty to sending a fake ransom demand to the family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY show co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Derrick Callella of Hawthorne pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

According to court documents, Callella admitted to calling and texting Guthrie’s family on February 4, demanding a bitcoin transfer. He acknowledged knowing that an earlier ransom demand had already been made and intentionally acted to harass the family while seeking information about the ongoing investigation into Nancy’s disappearance.

Callella faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, plus one year of supervised release. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2026.

Background on the Nancy Guthrie Case

Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early morning hours of February 1, 2026. She has been missing for over five months, and no official suspects have been identified in her kidnapping.

The FBI has confirmed receiving multiple ransom notes throughout the investigation. While some have been determined to be fake extortion attempts, others are still being evaluated as potentially legitimate.

Callella’s guilty plea highlights the additional emotional toll caused by individuals attempting to exploit high-profile missing persons cases.