FBI says ransom notes in Nancy Guthrie disappearance are not genuine

The FBI has dismissed the authenticity of the ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie,

The FBI has dismissed the authenticity of the ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, bringing new clarity to one of the most closely watched missing persons investigations in recent months.

The latest development comes after details from one of the three ransom notes became public. That message claimed Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after being abducted, raising concerns about her fate and prompting renewed public attention to the case.

According to Reuters, an FBI official confirmed that investigators do not believe any of the ransom notes received in connection with the case are legitimate.

“None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” the official said, adding that the agency thoroughly reviewed the communications during the investigation. Another law enforcement source familiar with the case also confirmed that federal authorities concluded the notes were not authentic.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which continues to lead the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, has declined to comment on the FBI’s assessment. Officials said they are limiting public statements because of their ongoing coordination with federal investigators.

Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo stated that the case remains active and that authorities are continuing to examine DNA evidence and surveillance footage collected during the investigation. She emphasized that forensic testing is still underway and that investigators have not ruled out any possibilities.

The three ransom notes were originally sent to several media organizations, , before being handed over to law enforcement for forensic examination.

The first note claimed that Nancy Guthrie was alive and demanded millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin in exchange for her release. It reportedly included two payment deadlines in early February and warned of serious consequences if the demands were not met.

A second note, however, presented a completely different narrative. It claimed that the kidnappers never intended to kill Guthrie but alleged that she died shortly after being abducted. Unlike the first message, the second note did not request additional money or offer to return her body. Instead, it included what appeared to be an apology addressed to the Guthrie family.

Despite the disturbing claims made in the letters, the FBI now believes the messages were fabricated and are not connected to those responsible for Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Savannah Guthrie has continued to make emotional public appeals as the search for her mother enters its fifth month. Speaking on NBC’s *Today* show on June 24, she urged anyone with information to contact investigators.

“We are in agony, and we cannot be at peace. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her,” Guthrie said, expressing the family’s determination to find answers.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of January 31 after relatives dropped her off at her home in Tucson, Arizona, at approximately 9:45 p.m. When she failed to attend her regular virtual church service the following morning, family members reported her missing on February 1.

As part of the investigation, the FBI released surveillance footage showing a masked individual approaching Guthrie’s front door on the night she disappeared. Authorities continue to analyze the video for potential leads.

More than 20 weeks after her disappearance, the case remains unsolved. No arrests have been made, and investigators have not identified any suspects. Search teams and volunteers have spent months combing the rugged desert terrain surrounding Tucson, but Nancy Guthrie has yet to be found.

Law enforcement agencies continue to encourage anyone with information about her disappearance to come forward as the investigation remains active.