The FBI says it is still investigating extortion demands connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, and some of those demands “may potentially be legitimate.” The agency shared the update on Wednesday, one day after a Reuters report said kidnapping notes received in the case had been determined to be fake.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home in early February. Investigators believe she may have been abducted.
FBI Clarifies Status of Ransom Notes
After Nancy Guthrie vanished, several media organizations reportedly received three messages about the case. Two of those messages were ransom demands, while a third came from someone claiming to know who was responsible.
According to Reuters, an unnamed FBI official said federal investigators had reviewed the communications and determined they were not genuine.
The official reportedly said none of the ransom notes were believed to be real.
However, the FBI later clarified that the investigation remains active and that not every ransom demand has been dismissed.
Some Extortion Attempts Deemed Fake
In a statement posted on social media, the FBI said it and its task force partners had received several ransom notes throughout the investigation.
The agency said some of the messages had been identified as illegitimate extortion attempts. However, it added that other ransom demands may still be genuine and are being investigated as possible legitimate leads.
The FBI emphasized that the case continues to be handled as a kidnapping-for-ransom investigation.
Nancy Guthrie Disappeared From Her Arizona Home
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in early February from her home in Arizona.
Police found blood near her front door, leading investigators to believe she may have been abducted from the property. Surveillance footage released by the FBI showed a masked man standing on her porch on the night she disappeared.
Law enforcement agencies launched a large-scale search for the 84-year-old, including teams searching the nearby desert.
Ransom Demand Reportedly Asked for Cryptocurrency
According to Reuters, the first note received by media outlets demanded a ransom worth millions of dollars in cryptocurrency.
As part of an effort to test the authenticity of the message and potentially trace the people behind it, the FBI reportedly deposited a small amount of money into the account listed in the note.
However, the money was left untouched.
Investigators later concluded that the notes appeared to come from a common source but were likely sent by a person or group not actually connected to Guthrie’s disappearance. A third note reported by media outlets last week was also determined to be fake, according to Reuters.
Savannah Guthrie Continues Pleading for Answers
Savannah Guthrie has continued to use her platform to draw attention to her mother’s disappearance.
Last week, she made an emotional appeal, saying her family loves their mother and will never stop searching for her.
Her public statements have helped keep the case in the spotlight as investigators continue looking for answers.
The FBI says the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains an active kidnapping-for-ransom investigation, even though some ransom notes have been ruled out as fake extortion attempts. The agency clarified that other demands may still be legitimate and are being investigated.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home in early February, where police found blood near the front door and later released surveillance footage of a masked man on her porch. As the search continues, Savannah Guthrie and her family remain determined to find answers.