The FBI clarified on Wednesday that it has not disregarded all ransom notes related to Nancy Guthrie’s case, although they did identify many as unproductive leads.
The agency’s Phoenix Field Office stated, “We received several ransom notes during this investigation, and some were characterized as baseless extortion attempts.” They further noted that other ransom requests could potentially be credible and are still being looked into.
Reports indicated that an email sent to Savannah Guthrie, age 84, requesting cash for her mother’s body has been classified as illegal.
An official confirmed to The Post that an article discussed incomplete internal documents, and some messages remain under scrutiny for authenticity.
Following Nancy’s disappearance on January 31, several ransom notes were disseminated to media outlets and the Guthrie family. While most were quickly dismissed, a few, which included specific details about her attire and residence, seemed likely to be genuine.
The first ransom demanded $4 million to be transferred to a Bitcoin wallet for Nancy’s safe return, and later claims suggested that even if Guthrie had passed away, the family could still pay for the body.
A more recent communication claimed to know who the kidnapper was. However, officials have been skeptical about the letter’s validity for months.
At a press conference, FBI Director Kash Patel refrained from commenting on the case details, stating, “We continue to support the investigation. This is a national issue led by state authorities.”
Numerous ransom demands captured law enforcement’s attention due to their references to private details not disclosed publicly, such as a malfunctioning security light in Guthrie’s home and her Apple Watch.
Investigators attempted to verify the sender’s legitimacy by sending minor transactions to the Bitcoin wallet, but no further activity was noted, raising doubts about whether the kidnappers actually had Nancy.
Complicating matters, a suspect trying to disable Guthrie’s doorbell camera on the day she went missing appeared inexperienced, suggesting they might not pull off a complicated ransom scheme solo. Cybercrime attorney Todd Spodek commented, “If there was a sophisticated operation, they wouldn’t have attempted this kidnapping.”
The task force is still focused on tracing the ransom note’s author through various proxy servers meant to disguise their identity.
Authorities have detained and released several individuals, scoured gun shops around Tucson, and analyzed potential DNA evidence, though the case remains unresolved as the investigation reaches its fifth month.
