Some Nancy Guthrie ransom notes were illegitimate ‘extortion attempts,’ while others are still being investigated, FBI says
Some of the ransom notes sent to news organizations about his disappearance Nancy GuthrieThe mother of NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie said her notes from earlier this year were not legitimate, but other notes may have been and are still under investigation, the FBI’s Phoenix office said Wednesday.
“Some notes were considered as illegitimate extortion attempts.” Publish on X in question. “Other ransom demands may be potentially legitimate and are currently being investigated as such.”
“This case remains investigated as a case of kidnapping for ransom,” the FBI office said, adding that local authorities were overseeing the investigation while assisting with the case.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department also issued its own statement on the matter, saying “every tip and tip is taken seriously” and referred to its detectives who “continue to work in coordination with the FBI.” The department referred all other questions about the ransom notes to the FBI.
The disclosure of the notes is the latest development in the five-month investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. The 84-year-old man disappeared from his Arizona home in the early morning hours of February 1 without his phone or essential medications. Her disappearance sparked an investigative frenzy trying to locate the old woman. The investigation is still ongoing.
The new statement refutes this claim Reuters report on TuesdayFederal investigators determined that “all three kidnapping-related messages” linked to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance were fake, he said, citing an unnamed FBI official.
Authorities had previously said little publicly about the contents or authenticity of the notes.
Multiple ransom notes from the alleged kidnappers were sent to local media, including CNN affiliate KOLD-TV and TMZ. The first bill sought millions of dollars, law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation told CNN at the time. A. second ransom note Nancy Guthrie allegedly died shortly after being kidnapped, sources said.
Guthrie family in response to second note A post was made on Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram, “We received your message and we understand it,” he said, but did not explain the content of the note.
The content of the second note was previously known to CNN and a local news channel. initially accepted a request CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller said law enforcement and the Guthrie family should hold off on reporting the contents of both notes so that any future communications with the kidnappers could be verified.
In addition to the ransom notes claiming Nancy Guthrie had been compromised, TMZ received other emails claiming to have information about the missing mother and demanding $100,000 in exchange for the information.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin shared a post video Last week, we were addressing some rumors about various emails the channel said it had received. In the video, Levin noted that TMZ received a “premature” note stating that Nancy Guthrie was “scared but OK,” adding that claims that Nancy Guthrie received a ransom note apologizing to Savannah Guthrie and her family for her kidnapping and death are false.
One of Savannah Guthrie’s confidants told CNN that the Guthrie family has been battling apparent usurpers for several months, adding further complications and pain to an already alarming situation.
After the contents of the second memo were reported, Savannah Guthrie issued a new appeal to “Today” show viewers, asking anyone with information to come forward.
“Please, if you’re watching, you can tell us, no matter how small the reward. It can be anonymous,” the NBC anchor said. “We love our mother and will never stop looking for her. Never.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
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