Story perspectives

Man Pleads Guilty to Fake Ransom Note, Faces 2-Year Jail

7/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Derrick Calleja, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty in Tucson court to harassment for sending a fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case.
The plea mandates five-year probation, drug-treatment, two-year jail, a $250,000 fine and sentencing for September 10.
He said the notes were meant to harass the family, acknowledging an earlier ransom demand existed.
FBI Phoenix reported receiving several ransom notes, labeling some extortion attempts while others remain under review.

History

Historical Context

In 1968 Gary Steven Krist and accomplice Ruth Eisemann-Schier kidnapped Barbara Jane Mackle, demanding a $500,000 ransom and burying her alive in a ventilated box; the dramatic rescue prompted a federal crackdown on ransom-note extortion. The Tucson case, where Derrick Calleja fabricated ransom notes and faces a $250,000 fine, mirrors those 1968 tactics and reflects the lasting impact of that precedent.

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Story summary

Derrick Calleja, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty in Tucson court to harassment for sending a fake ransom note in Nancy Guthrie case.
The plea mandates five-year probation, drug-treatment, two-year jail, a $250,000 fine and sentencing for September 10.
He said the notes were meant to harass the family, acknowledging an earlier ransom demand existed.
FBI Phoenix reported receiving several ransom notes, labeling some extortion attempts while others remain under review.

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