Some of the ransom notes despatched to information shops within the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mom of NBC “Today” present anchor Savannah Guthrie, earlier this 12 months were not reputable, however different notes is likely to be and are nonetheless below investigation, the FBI Phoenix workplace mentioned Wednesday.
“Some (of the notes) have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” its post on X mentioned. “Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
“This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” the FBI workplace mentioned, including that whereas it’s aiding within the case, native authorities oversee the investigation.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department additionally issued its personal assertion on the matter, saying “every tip and lead is taken seriously” and despatched to its detectives, “who continue to work in coordination with the FBI.” The division directed all additional questions in regards to the ransom notes to the FBI.
The assertion in regards to the notes is the newest growth within the five-month-long investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. The 84-year-old vanished from her Arizona dwelling within the early morning hours of February 1 with out her telephone or important medicines. Her disappearance fueled an investigative frenzy attempting to find the aged lady. The investigation continues to be ongoing.
The new assertion rebuts a Reuters report Tuesday, citing an unnamed FBI official, that federal investigators have decided “all three kidnapping-related messages” tied to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to be pretend.
Authorities had beforehand mentioned little or no to the general public in regards to the contents or the authenticity of the notes.
Several ransom notes purportedly from the abductors were despatched to native media, together with NCS affiliate KOLD-TV, and TMZ. The preliminary notice demanded tens of millions of {dollars}, regulation enforcement sources briefed on the investigation instructed NCS on the time. A second ransom note allegedly mentioned Nancy Guthrie died shortly after she was kidnapped, the sources mentioned.
In response to the second notice, the Guthrie household posted on Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram, the place she mentioned, “We received your message, and we understand,” however didn’t develop on the contents of the notice.
The second notice’s content material was beforehand identified to NCS and a neighborhood information station, which each initially agreed to a request by regulation enforcement and the Guthrie household to carry off on reporting the contents of both notice so any future communications with kidnappers might be authenticated, NCS Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller mentioned.
In addition to the ransom notes claiming to have Nancy Guthrie, TMZ additionally acquired a number of different emails that claimed to have data on the lacking matriarch and demanded $100,000 in alternate for the data.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin posted a video final week addressing a few of the rumors surrounding the varied emails the outlet mentioned it acquired. TMZ acquired a notice “early on” saying Nancy Guthrie was “scared but OK,” Levin mentioned within the video, including claims he acquired a ransom notice with an apology to Savannah Guthrie and her household for Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping and dying were false.
The Guthrie household has been contending with obvious extortionists for a number of months, including extra complication and ache to an already fraught state of affairs, considered one of Savannah Guthrie’s confidants instructed NCS.
After the contents of the second notice were reported, Savannah Guthrie made a brand new attraction to “Today” present viewers, asking anybody with data to return ahead.
“Please, if you’re watching, no matter how small the reward is there, you can tell us. It can be anonymous,” the NBC anchor mentioned. “We love our mom and we’ll never stop looking for her. Never.”
This story has been up to date with further data.