A man from California has admitted sending fake ransom notes in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Today show host Savannah Guthrie’s mum was reported missing earlier this year after failing to show up for church.
Now, Derrick Callella has pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
The 42-year-old called and sent text messages to the Guthrie family on February 4, after Nancy is believed to have been abducted.
In his correspondence, he asked about a bitcoin transfer.
According to the authorities: ‘Callella acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made.
‘Callella also admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation into the missing person’s disappearance.’
A maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and one year of supervised release can be awarded for harassment using a telecommunication device.
The news comes after investigators revealed that the FBI had received several fake ransom demands, but said some ‘may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.’
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Savannah has made several heart-wrenching pleas for anyone with information on her mother’s disappearance to please come forward.
She is one of Nancy’s three children, desperate for answers about their mum. The siblings have previously offered to pay the ransom for Nancy’s return.
The 84-year-old was last seen in January 31 after spending time with her family and dropped off at her residence in Arizona.
Footage later emerged from Nancy’s doorbell camera of a man in a balaclava approaching her porch wearing a backpack.
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Since then, reports have followed detailing various ransom notes from an alleged kidnapper or group of kidnappers.
Last month, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said on a local news station: ‘I think the FBI has done a number of arrests for false or fake ransom notes.
‘It is a shame that these types of events occur.’
He continued: ‘People have great interest and that’s good because it helps us but then it gets really abused.
‘People who call in fake ransom notes, people who claim for the sake of media and the family, they get out and disturb – in this case – an entire neighbourhood.’