The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of *Today* co-host Savannah Guthrie, has taken another troubling turn. More than five months after she vanished from her Arizona home, 42-year-old California man Derrick Callella has pleaded guilty to sending fake ransom messages connected to the case. The development has added another disturbing layer to an already baffling investigation.

Callella admitted that he contacted Guthrie’s family on February 4 and demanded bitcoin while claiming to have information about her disappearance. Prosecutors say he was aware that an earlier ransom demand had been made and deliberately contacted the family to harass them while attempting to obtain information about the investigation. He faces up to two years in prison, a possible $250,000 fine and supervised release, with sentencing scheduled for September 10.

The case became even more confusing after federal investigators determined that ransom communications connected to Guthrie appeared to be fabricated. Several messages have been reported, including one demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin, another claiming Guthrie had died and a later message that allegedly contained video evidence. The FBI has emphasized that the investigation remains active and that authorities are still examining some communications to determine whether any could be legitimate.

Calif. Man Pleads Guilty to Sending Fake Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note https://t.co/sfofAMdXH7

— People (@people) July 2, 2026

Guthrie was last seen on January 31 after returning home from dinner with her family. Investigators have said surveillance footage captured an armed, masked individual near her home, while evidence inside the residence pointed to a possible struggle, including blood and a broken lamp. Despite extensive searches, a $50,000 reward and numerous tips, Guthrie has not been found, and no one has been arrested in connection with her disappearance. The fake ransom messages have only deepened the mystery surrounding what happened to her.