Nancy Guthrie Update: California Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Fake Ransom Demand to Harass Family ...Saudi Arabia

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Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, pleaded guilty Thursday, July 2, to two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona announced in the official press release. Prosecutors say Callella called and texted Guthrie's family on February 4, just days after the news of Nancy's disappearance was made public, asking about a bitcoin transfer.

According to NBC News, Court records show he used a VOIP, or internet-based, phone line to send the message: "Did you get the bitcoin were (sic) waiting on our end for the transaction."

Inside the Plea Deal: Derrick Callella's Sentencing and Penalties

Under the plea agreement, Callella is expected to receive two concurrent five-year probation terms when he's sentenced September 10.  He also faces a maximum possible penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, according to Reuters. The plea comes as investigators continue sorting fact from fiction in the broader case. 

Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses for a photo before hosting NBC's "Today Show" live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.

Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage

The statement read: "Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy," the bureau said. "Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such."

Statement on Guthrie Investigation pic.twitter.com/zTUKcjPfsv

— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) July 1, 2026

Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1 after vanishing from her Tucson-area home the night before. Despite multiple rounds of searches around her property and several rounds of DNA testing, no suspect has been publicly named, and no breakthrough has emerged.

Anyone with information related to Nancy Guthrie is asked to call Tucson’s 88-Crime hotline at 1-520-882-7463 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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