A man has admitted to sending fake ransom notes posing as a kidnapper of 'Today' show co-host Savannah Guthrie's missing elderly mother.
Derrick Callella, 42, has pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment by telecommunications device. This marks the only criminal conviction to date stemming from the dissappearance of the co-host's mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.
Callella's charges carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine. The plea agreement also calls for Callella to serve five years on probation.
The news of the plea deal leaves the fate of Guthrie unknown. The 84-year-old was last seen alive on the 31st of January.
She was discovered to be missing when she didn't show up to church one day as usual and a friend contacted her family. When they checked her house, they found her gone. Guthrie left essential items such as medication, hearing aid and her phone which sparked concern for her family members.
According to RTE, four days after Guthrie was reported missing, Callella was arrested.
Court reports and FBI public statements confirmed that local media received a ransom note on February 2nd demanding a payment.
According to reports, Callella admitted that he sent messages to Guthrie's family inquiring about a transfer and "he acknowledged that he knew an earlier ransom demand had been made," the US Attorney statement said.
The statement also confirmed that Callella admitted that his actions were meant to harass the family by seeking information about the investigation.
