FBI officials say none of Nancy Guthrie ransom notes were real as they issue serious update in kidnapping case
Back in early February, it was first reported that Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, had been kidnapped from her home.
A series of supposed ransom notes had been sent to media outlets with the most recent message reportedly sent in late June offering up ‘names and addresses’ of the key perpetrators.
Savannah has made reference to the messages in videos she’s posted on social media with her siblings, pleading for their mum’s return. In one video they appeared to address kidnappers as they said: “We will pay.”
Nancy was last seen alive at her home in Arizona after an evening with her eldest daughter Annie on 31 January.
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Two ransom notes were sent in February before the recent message. However, FBI officials have now said these were not actually real.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an FBI official told Reuters: “None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine.”
And a second law enforcement source confirmed the FBI assessment of the messages.
This discounting of the three notes seemed to raise doubts about the ‘fundamental premise’ that Nancy was abducted for ransom in the first place.
The investigation remains active with the Pima County Sheriff's Department saying that DNA samples and video evidence collected remain ‘under forensic analysis’.
The FBI official added that investigators determined that the first two notes (one demanding millions in cryptocurrency and the other reportedly referring to Nancy as dead) came from the same sender.
In attempting to test the first note’s authenticity and trace the demands back, the official said the FBI deposited a small amount of cryptocurrency in an account. However, this was allegedly left untouched and never taken.
The official said it was on this basis that it was decided the first two notes were not sent by a person connected with the woman’s disappearance.
They didn’t reveal how the third note was ruled as fake.
Savannah and her family have offered up a $1 million reward as she continues to urge anyone who might know something about Nancy’s disappearance to come forward.
The host has also said that they were still ‘blowing on the embers of hope’ that their mum is still alive, while also acknowledging that ‘she may already be gone’.
Nancy reportedly had been in frail health with limited mobility at the time and soon after she vanished, authorities confirmed that DNA tests showed that blood found on her porch came from her.
Topics: US News, Celebrity News, Crime
Jess Battison