A Los Angeles-area man, Derrick Callella, pleads guilty to federal felony harassment charges for sending fake ransom notes to Nancy Guthrie’s family, U.S. authorities said. Prosecutors say Callella called and sent text messages to members of Guthrie’s family on or around Feb. 4, 2026, posing as a kidnapper and demanding or discussing a bitcoin transfer. The 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on Jan. 31 at her home outside Tucson, Arizona. Authorities previously reported that her cellphone, medication, and other essentials were found at the residence and that blood drops were observed near the porch. Media reports describe multiple bogus messages attributed to the alleged kidnapping. Callella’s guilty plea comes as the case proceeds, with federal charges carrying potential penalties including up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The accounts across outlets consistently describe the same conduct: fabricated ransom communications sent to the family while pretending to be involved in her disappearance.