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An FBI spokesperson is shutting down a viral report claiming that three ransom notes pertaining to the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom, Nancy Guthrie, are fake.
“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,” an official statement from FBI Phoenix shared via X on Wednesday, July 1, reads in part. “Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
The statement continued, “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.”
FBI Phoenix pushed back on the Tuesday, June 30, Reuters report claiming investigators believe three notes sent to TMZ and local media outlets had no real connection to Nancy, 84, going missing.
The report cited an anonymous FBI source, claiming two ransom notes reported in early February, and a more recent third message from someone claiming to know the kidnappers’ identities, were all proven to be counterfeit.
“None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” the official alleged to Reuters. (The second ransom note allegedly stated that Nancy was “buried in nature” following her supposed death, reporter Briana Whitney exclusively told Us Weekly in June.)
After reviewing the first and second ransom notes, Whitney told Us that the second note’s “verbiage” caught her eye.
“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,” the journalist told Us. “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.”
In yet another update on Wednesday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department released their own statement, noting “every tip and lead is taken seriously and is forwarded directly to our detectives, who continue to work in coordination with the FBI.” They added, “Any questions regarding alleged ransom notes should be directed to the FBI.”
Nancy was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 30 after grabbing dinner with family members.
Security footage from her doorbell camera showed a masked figure wearing a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack approaching her door on the night she is believed to have vanished. Authorities described the suspect as a “male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build.”
Ever since Nancy’s disappearance, Today show host Savannah, 54, as well as her sister, Annie Guthrie, and brother, Camron Guthrie, have pleaded for their mother’s safe return.
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