Federal investigators have determined that three ransom notes received in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, are not genuine, according to a report.
An anonymous FBI official told Reuters that investigators assessed the authenticity of two ransom notes that surfaced in early February, shortly after Guthrie vanished, and a third note that emerged more recently and claimed to identify her abductors. "None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine," the official stated.
A second law enforcement source familiar with the matter corroborated the FBI's assessment that the notes were not authentic.
Guthrie, 84, has been missing since Feb. 1. Authorities believe she was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
Since news of her disappearance broke, multiple media outlets, including TMZ, have received ransom notes. The first two notes, believed to be from the same sender, were sent in February. The initial note demanded millions in cryptocurrency, with payment deadlines of Feb. 5 and Feb. 9. A subsequent note suggested Guthrie had died and did not include a payment demand.
To test the authenticity of the first ransom communication, the FBI deposited a small amount of cryptocurrency into the specified account. However, the funds remained untouched. In addition to this action and other unspecified methods, the FBI concluded that the two notes originated from an individual not connected to Guthrie's disappearance.
The FBI also determined that the third note, which claimed to know the identities of Guthrie's abductors, was not authentic, though the specific methods for this conclusion were not detailed.
The Post reached out to the FBI for comment but did not immediately receive a response.