Tommaso Cioni

Derrick Callella, a California man, pleaded guilty to sending a fake ransom note to Nancy Guthrie’s family via text and a VoIP phone line. He was charged with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass. Callella will receive 10 years’ probation and is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 10.

Derrick Callella pleaded guilty to writing a fake ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case, admitting to charges of transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device to harass. He will receive 10 years’ probation and sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10.

A man pleaded guilty to writing a fake ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case, admitting to transmitting ransom demands via VoIP and harassment. He was sentenced to 10 years' probation and will be formally sentenced on Sept. 10. The messages referenced Bitcoin and were sent after the Guthrie family's first video message to kidnappers.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for three months after a suspected abduction from her Arizona home. Authorities report an active investigation, with a masked armed suspect captured on camera and a $1.2 million reward offered. The FBI and local sheriff's office are analyzing DNA and hair samples from the crime scene.