California Man Admits Sending Fake Ransom Messages in Nancy Guthrie Case

Derrick Anthony Calla, a 42-year-old California resident, has admitted to sending fake ransom messages to the family of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Following her disappearance, ransom demands were sent to her family, some of which the FBI is still investigating as part of a suspected kidnapping for ransom case.

Calla was arrested shortly after the messages were traced to him. He pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment via communication devices. According to the indictment, Calla sent messages from a spoofed number to Nancy Guthrie's daughter and son-in-law, stating, "Did you get the Bitcoin? We are waiting on our side for the deal." Authorities linked the online account used to send these messages directly to Calla.

A federal court has ordered Calla to undergo inpatient rehabilitation treatment until his sentencing. The authorities clarified that Calla is not responsible for an earlier ransom demand sent to local media, which remains under investigation. Calla faces up to two years in prison for each charge and fines up to $250,000 per count.