Read the full article on KETV 7
Man pleads guilty to sending fake ransom demand in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
Digital Editor
A California man has pleaded guilty to making a fake ransom demand in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, was arrested in February, accused of sending two text messages to the Guthrie family. He then called a family member shortly after the 84-year-old Guthrie’s disappearance from her Arizona home on Feb. 1.
Advertisement
Callella pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device.
In his plea, Callella admitted that he called and sent text messages to Guthrie’s family on Feb. 4, just days after Guthrie’s disappearance, which asked for a Bitcoin transfer.
Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made, federal officials said, and admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance.
Callella faces up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Officials also said Callella’s ransom note is far from the first in connection to the case.
The FBI’s Phoenix office said Wednesday that several ransom notes have been received during the investigation into Guthrie’s alleged kidnapping. The office stated that it believes some of the notes are not credible, but some could potentially be legitimate.
“Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” the statement read. “Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
The FBI said that the case is still being investigated as a “kidnapping for ransom.” It added that while its agents are assisting in the investigation, local authorities are still leading the way.
Authorities say they believe Guthrie was taken from her home against her will more than four months ago.
Guthrie is the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who says her family “cannot be at peace” while her mother’s whereabouts are unknown.
