California man pleads guilty to sending fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case

Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old man from California, pleaded guilty on July 2, 2026, to charges related to sending a fake ransom note to the family of Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1, 2026. Callella faces two felony charges: transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass. He allegedly sent a text message to Guthrie's family members shortly after her disappearance, inquiring about a bitcoin transaction. The FBI has determined that the ransom notes sent to the Guthrie family were not genuine, suggesting that the family was not in contact with actual kidnappers. Callella is scheduled for sentencing on September 10, 2026, and will begin serving 10 years of probation. The investigation into Guthrie's disappearance continues, with few leads reported since her abduction.