Nancy Guthrie: California man pleads guilty to sending ‘imposter ransom demand’

TUCSON, Ariz. – A California man who authorities say sent an “imposter ransom demand” to Nancy Guthrie’s family members pleaded guilty to charges on Thursday.

Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC’s “Today Show” live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)

What we know:

Derrick Callella, 42, pleaded guilty on July 2 to two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device, the United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona said in a news release.

Callella faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and one year of supervised release. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10.

Dig deeper:

Investigators say after Nancy Guthrie‘s family members released an emotional video asking the kidnappers to contact them, they each received a text message from a phone number with a California area code reading: “Did you get the bitcoin [we’re] waiting on our end for the transaction”.

Officials say they discovered that the phone number was associated with a VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) application, eventually linking Callella to the number.

When questioned, investigators say Callella admitted to sending the messages, and said that he pulled the family’s information from a website, and had been following the case.

The backstory:

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was dropped off at her home on the evening of Jan. 31. Guthrie was reported missing the following day by family members after she failed to show up at church. 

Since her disappearance, PCSD and the FBI have released footage of Nancy’s alleged abductor at her doorstep.

What you can do:

A reward of over $1 million is being offered by Nancy’s family and the FBI for her safe recovery. Anyone with information should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Nancy Guthrie (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has also set up a tipline where the community can submit information. An online form is available for tips.

Map of the area where Nancy Guthrie was last seen: