{"id":2622998,"date":"2026-07-02T18:24:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T22:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-sending-fake-ransom-note-in-nancy-guthrie-case\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T18:25:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T22:25:51","slug":"california-man-pleads-guilty-to-sending-fake-ransom-note-in-nancy-guthrie-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-sending-fake-ransom-note-in-nancy-guthrie-case\/","title":{"rendered":"California man pleads guilty to sending fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-man-pleads-guilty-to-sending-fake-ransom-note-in-nancy-guthrie-case%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2622998&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A man from California, Derrick Callella, pleaded guilty to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/afghan-refugees-face-federal-charges-after-trying-to-rape-child-strangle-woman-in-wisconsin-report\/\" title=\"Afghan Refugees Face Federal Charges After Trying To Rape Child, Strangle Wo... In Wisconsin: Report\">federal charges related<\/a> to sending a fake ransom note demanding payment for the kidnapping of nancy Guthrie, who went missing over five months ago. Callella, 42, had allegedly texted family members shortly after Guthrie\u2019s disappearance, which initially suggested she had been abducted, but authorities now believe the ransom notes were hoaxes. He had contacted Guthrie\u2019s daughter and son-in-law, demanding bitcoin payments after the family publicly pleaded for her return. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >case remains largely unresolved<\/a>, and the FBI has steadfast the ransom notes were fabricated, indicating no direct interaction with actual kidnappers. Callella is scheduled for sentencing on September 10 and faces 10 years of probation. Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC\u2019s Savannah Guthrie, is believed to be deceased due to her fragile health and dependence on medication. The inquiry continues, with authorities suspecting that the ransom notes were not genuine and that Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance may not have involved real kidnappers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/california\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"60\">California<\/a> man pleaded guilty on Thursday to sending a fake ransom note to the family of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4620240\/ransom-note-about-nancy-guthries-disappearance-claimed-she-died\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4620240\/ransom-note-about-nancy-guthries-disappearance-claimed-she-died\/\">Nancy Guthrie<\/a>, who went missing just over five months ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Derrick Callella, 42, faces two felony charges related to transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and utilizing a telecommunications device with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person. He entered a guilty plea on both counts.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4634634\/leftists-july-4-fundraising-antifa\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018F*** The 4th\u2019: Leftists commemorate Independence Day by fundraising for jailed antifa \u2018comrades\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4634758\/olympian-indicted-reflecting-pool-vandalism\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Grand jury indicts former Olympian over Reflecting Pool arrest<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4634294\/couple-climb-empire-state-supervised-release\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Couple who climbed Empire State Building for engagement out on \u2018supervised release\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The defendant allegedly texted two members of the Guthrie family in February shortly after the 84-year-old woman disappeared. She is believed to have been abducted due to the existence of ransom notes, though authorities are starting to believe they\u2019re fake.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDid you get the bitcoin were waiting on our end for the transaction,\u201d Callella allegedly texted to Guthrie\u2019s oldest daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The suspect sent the message after the Guthrie family released the first video message pleading with the alleged kidnappers and offering to pay for their relative\u2019s release, according to investigators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Callella is set to be sentenced on Sept. 10, after which he will start serving 10 years of probation for the crimes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The case has resulted in very few substantive leads since Guthrie went missing at her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"327\">Arizona<\/a> home on Feb. 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"516\">FBI<\/a> believes none of the ransom notes sent to the anxious family were genuine, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/media-telecom\/fbi-determines-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-notes-be-fakes-source-says-2026-07-01\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/media-telecom\/fbi-determines-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-notes-be-fakes-source-says-2026-07-01\/\">according to<\/a> <em>Reuters<\/em>. If that\u2019s true, the family likely wasn\u2019t communicating with the actual kidnappers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4632106\/fbi-nancy-guthrie-ransom-notes-fake\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4632106\/fbi-nancy-guthrie-ransom-notes-fake\/\">FBI FINDS NANCY GUTHRIE RANSOM NOTES WERE FAKE: REPORT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11691\">Kash Patel<\/a> declined to comment on the latest development in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/missing-persons\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"398\">missing persons<\/a> case during an unrelated press conference on Wednesday. The bureau has been assisting Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/agent-who-exposed-feds-biden-family-cover-up-to-lead-irs\/\" title=\"Agent Who Exposed Feds&#039; Biden ... Cover-Up To Lead IRS\">state-led investigation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Guthrie, the mother of NBC News\u2019s <em>Today<\/em> show co-host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/savannah-guthrie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21536\">Savannah Guthrie<\/a>, is speculated to be dead based on her fragile health and reliance on daily medication.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California man admits to fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2622999,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26066083870851.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4045,50403,32750,72867,57746],"class_list":["post-2622998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-california","tag-crime-2","tag-guilty-plea","tag-nancy-guthrie","tag-ransom-note"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26066083870851.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2622998"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2623002,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2622998\/revisions\/2623002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2622999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2622998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2622998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2622998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}