The Federal Bureau of Investigation has moved to correct a viral report regarding ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. The clarification comes as investigators continue their work on a case that has captured national attention since January.
On Wednesday, July 1, FBI Phoenix released an official statement via X addressing claims that all ransom notes in the case were fabricated. The statement directly contradicted a Reuters report published Tuesday, June 30, which cited an anonymous FBI source claiming that three notes sent to TMZ and local media outlets had been proven counterfeit.
"The FBI and its task force partners have received several ransom notes over the course of this investigation. Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy," the FBI Phoenix statement reads. "Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such."
The federal agency emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing. "This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case. The FBI has and will continue to offer all assistance possible in the investigation — however local authorities remain the lead," the statement continued.
The Reuters report had claimed that investigators believed three separate notes — two ransom demands reported in early February and a more recent third message from someone claiming to know the kidnappers' identities — were all proven to be counterfeit. According to that report, an anonymous FBI official stated that none of the ransom notes were believed to be genuine.
Reporter Briana Whitney, who has been following the case closely, previously shared details about the second ransom note with Us Weekly in June. The second note allegedly stated that Nancy Guthrie was "buried in nature" following her supposed death. Whitney noted unusual aspects of the correspondence that raised questions about its authenticity.
"I thought it was interesting that the term 'we' was used, and that it could be somebody trying to fool people that it's more than one person," Whitney told Us Weekly, speaking to the publication about the note's "verbiage." "But that's how it was written. It [was] kind of offbeat and odd … not a way that we would typically write something. That stuck out."
The Pima County Sheriff's Department also issued a statement Wednesday, noting that "every tip and lead is taken seriously and is forwarded directly to our detectives, who continue to work in coordination with the FBI." The department directed questions regarding alleged ransom notes to the FBI.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 30 after having dinner with family members. Security footage from her doorbell camera captured a masked figure wearing a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack approaching her door on the night she is believed to have vanished. Authorities have described the suspect as a male, approximately five feet nine inches to five feet ten inches tall, with an average build.
Since Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, her daughter Savannah Guthrie, 54, along with her siblings Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie, have made public appeals for their mother's safe return. The case remains under active investigation by local authorities with FBI assistance.
The FBI's clarification underscores the complexity of high-profile missing persons cases, where investigators must navigate genuine leads alongside potential hoaxes and extortion attempts. While some communications have been dismissed as lacking legitimacy, authorities maintain that other ransom demands continue to warrant serious investigation as they work to locate Nancy Guthrie and bring those responsible to justice.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
