The FBI is investigating extortion demands related to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance that "may potentially be legitimate," the agency said on Wednesday. The update comes a day after Reuters reported that kidnapping notes received in Guthrie's case were fake.
Background on the Case
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in early February. Police found blood near her front door and believe she was abducted. Surveillance videos released by the FBI showed a masked man on her porch the night she disappeared. Law enforcement launched a massive search, scouring the nearby desert.
Ransom Notes and FBI Investigation
After the disappearance, several media outlets received three messages regarding the case. Two were ransom notes, and the third was from someone claiming to know the perpetrators. Initially, an unnamed FBI official told Reuters that the notes were believed to be fake. However, the FBI later clarified that while some ransom notes have been deemed "extortion attempts without legitimacy," others remain under investigation.
"The FBI and its task force partners have received several ransom notes over the course of this investigation," read the statement posted to social media. "Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. 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."
Details of the Notes
According to Reuters, the first note received by media outlets demanded a ransom in the millions in the form of cryptocurrency. The FBI deposited a small sum in the account included in the note as part of an effort to confirm its authenticity and track down the perpetrators, but the money was left untouched. Investigators ultimately concluded that the notes were "of a common origin … sent by a person or persons not actually connected with Guthrie's disappearance." A third note, reported on last week, was also determined to be fake.
Savannah Guthrie's Plea
Savannah Guthrie has continued to bring attention to her mother's case and plead for answers. "We love our mom," she said last week. "And we will never stop looking for her." The investigation remains ongoing.
