California Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Fake Ransom Messages to Nancy Guthrie’s Family as FBI Investigation Continues

The federal investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has reached another milestone after a California man admitted to sending fraudulent ransom messages to her family.

According to federal court records, Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty in Arizona to charges stemming from fake communications he sent just days after Nancy Guthrie disappeared in February. Prosecutors said the messages falsely suggested that a Bitcoin payment was expected, creating additional distress for the Guthrie family while investigators searched for answers.

The guilty plea comes as the FBI continues to investigate Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance as an active kidnapping case.

Fake Messages Added Confusion During Search

Federal prosecutors said Callella used an internet-based calling and texting service to contact members of the Guthrie family only days after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson-area home.

Authorities were able to trace the communications through digital records, eventually linking the account to Callella. Court documents state that he later admitted sending the messages, which referenced a Bitcoin payment and were intended to obtain information about the investigation while harassing the family.

Rather than providing legitimate leads, investigators concluded the communications were entirely unrelated to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

FBI Says Ransom Notes in Nancy Guthrie Investigation Are Fake as Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Continues

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FBI Separates Fake Messages From Legitimate Evidence

The guilty plea follows the FBI’s recent announcement that multiple ransom letters connected to the case have been ruled fraudulent.

Investigators have said numerous people attempted to exploit the high-profile investigation by sending false tips, ransom demands, and misleading communications. Authorities believe these hoaxes diverted valuable investigative resources while causing additional pain for Nancy Guthrie’s loved ones.

Despite eliminating those false leads, the FBI has emphasized that the disappearance remains an active kidnapping investigation.

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Search for Nancy Guthrie Continues

Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home in the Tucson area on February 1, 2026.

Investigators previously released doorbell camera images showing an armed, masked individual outside her residence around the time she vanished. The individual has been publicly identified by the FBI as a suspect in the abduction, but no arrests have been made in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Authorities continue to encourage anyone with credible information to contact investigators.

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What Happens Next?

Callella is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10. While the charges against him relate only to the fake ransom communications, officials say the prosecution sends a clear message that individuals who interfere with missing person investigations can face federal consequences.

Meanwhile, the FBI continues to pursue leads connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, which remains one of the agency’s highest-profile ongoing investigations.

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