A California man has admitted to sending a cruel and 𝒻𝒶𝓀𝑒 ransom note to the already heartbroken family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. Derrick Callella, 42, from Hawthorne, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, according to federal court documents.
His sentencing is scheduled for September 10. Court records show that on February 4, Callella texted Nancy’s daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, asking, “Did you get the bitcoin were waiting on our end for the transaction.”
Just three minutes later, he also placed a nine-second phone call to another unidentified family member. Prosecutors say Callella admitted he knew a previous ransom demand had already been sent, and that his messages were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into Nancy’s disappearance.
Authorities have confirmed that Callella’s note was not connected to an earlier ransom demand sent to local media and TMZ on February 2. That initial demand allegedly included details that had not been made public, such as a broken security light at Nancy’s home and the Apple Watch she was wearing.
Five months after she vanished, Nancy Guthrie remains missing with no known suspects or leads. Investigators have recovered doorbell camera footage of a masked, armed suspect and collected DNA evidence early in the search.
Last month, Savannah Guthrie tearfully pleaded for anyone with information to come forward, speaking after reports surfaced that a ransom note indicated her mother had died. As the case stretches on, what will it take to finally bring answers to this grieving family?
