{"id":250089,"date":"2026-07-04T18:13:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T18:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/04\/nancy-guthrie-case-man-pleads-guilty-over-ransom-messages\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T18:13:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T18:13:00","slug":"nancy-guthrie-case-man-pleads-guilty-over-ransom-messages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/04\/nancy-guthrie-case-man-pleads-guilty-over-ransom-messages\/","title":{"rendered":"Nancy Guthrie Case: Man Pleads Guilty Over Ransom Messages"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Even if authorities don\u2019t seem to know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/06\/nancy-guthrie-porch-kidnapper-authorities-closing-in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">who Porch Guy is<\/a> or where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/06\/nancy-guthrie-chilling-anonymous-tip-unmarked-grave\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nancy\u2019s remains<\/a> might be, at least one aspect of this painful story is over.<\/p>\n<p>This week, a man pleaded guilty for his role in this family nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>He confessed to sending ransom demands to the Guthries.<\/p>\n<p>Though he has no apparent knowledge to help find Nancy, he won\u2019t be prolonging their anguish any further.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"A photograph of Nancy Guthrie is seen on a sign that people can leave messages on February 26, 2026\" class=\"wp-image-558322 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-960x640.jpg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-1080x720.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_nancyguthrie_01-scaled.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A photograph of Nancy Guthrie is seen on a sign that people can leave messages on February 26, 2026.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: Joe Raedle\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-he-entered-a-guilty-plea\">He entered a guilty plea<\/h2>\n<p>On Thursday, July 2, Derrick Callella pleaded guilty to transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce.<\/p>\n<p>He also pleaded guilty to using a telecommunications device to abuse, threaten or harass a person.<\/p>\n<p>Callella is a resident of Hawthorne, California.<\/p>\n<p>He texted two members of Guthrie\u2019s family on February 4 \u2014 Annie and Tommaso Cioni. For context, this was mere days after Nancy\u2019s abduction.<\/p>\n<p>Callella also allegedly made a nine-second call to another relative.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Man pleads guilty to making fake ransom demand in Nancy Guthrie case\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LI70a9VNj54?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Obviously \u2014 now, to us \u2014 Callella was making fake ransom demands.<\/p>\n<p>He had no knowledge of the case, no access to Nancy, and could only demand payment via cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n<p>According to court records, Callella used a VOIP line to message: \u201cDid you get the bitcoin [we\u2019re] waiting on our end for the transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This message came mere moments, investigators say, after the Guthrie family\u2019s first public plea for proof of life.<\/p>\n<p>But, despite the content of his messages, Callella had no involvement with the abduction. There was no \u201cwe.\u201d He wanted an easy payout for himself.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"881\" height=\"949\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop.png\" alt=\"Derrick Callella in his DMV photo.\" class=\"wp-image-558328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop.png 881w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop-279x300.png 279w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop-768x827.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"881\" height=\"949\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop.png\" alt=\"Derrick Callella in his DMV photo.\" class=\"wp-image-558328 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop.png 881w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop-279x300.png 279w, https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop-768x827.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 760px) calc(100vw - 20px), 720px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.thehollywoodgossip.com\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0703_derrickcallella_crop.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">On July 2, 2026, Derrick Callella entered a guilty plea.<span class=\"image-caption-credit\"> (Photo Credit: California Department of Motor Vehicles)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-guthries-have-suffered-enough\">The Guthries have suffered enough<\/h2>\n<p>As we previously reported, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/07\/nancy-guthrie-new-notes-fake-fbi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the FBI determined that the ransom notes<\/a> mailed to various media outlets were forgeries.<\/p>\n<p>This goes for those sent in February and for the additional note sent to <em>TMZ <\/em>in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>It isn\u2019t simply that sending false messages to try to scam money out of grieving, desperate people is illegal.<\/p>\n<p>These notes \u2014 the ones in February, at least \u2014 gave the Guthrie family hope that she might be alive.<\/p>\n<p>It is now widely believed by most that Nancy died very early into her abduction. The family\u2019s hopes of reunification with her were false.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Savannah Guthrie speaks out after new details revealed in Nancy&#039;s case\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7NbA9FqNato?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Callella has not yet been sentenced.<\/p>\n<p>His sentencing hearing will be in just over two months, on September 10.<\/p>\n<p>At that time, he will be ordered to 10 years of probation.<\/p>\n<p>According to court records, after entering his guilty plea, he reported to a residential addiction treatment facility.<\/p>\n<p>Reading between the lines, this appears to be a case of a troubled individual who made things worse for an already grieving family.<\/p>\n<p>We hope that rehab helps him to set his right life. Then, at least some piece of good can come from the horror story that the Guthries have now endured for half a year.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehollywoodgossip.com\/2026\/07\/nancy-guthrie-california-man-guilty-plea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Reading Time: 2 minutes Even if authorities don\u2019t seem to know who Porch Guy is or where Nancy\u2019s remains might be, at least one aspect of this painful story is over. This week, a man pleaded guilty for his role in this family nightmare. He confessed to sending ransom demands to the Guthries. Though he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":250092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-250089","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hollywood"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}