The FBI stated on Wednesday that it has not dismissed all ransom notes received in connection with the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. While many of the notes have been identified as extortion attempts lacking legitimacy, the agency confirmed that some demands remain under active investigation.
This statement comes after a report suggested the FBI had ruled out all ransom notes. Law enforcement sources confirmed to The Post that the legitimacy of certain messages is still being examined, noting that an unfinished internal document was referenced in the earlier report.
Numerous ransom notes were sent to media outlets and the Guthrie family following Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on January 31. While most were quickly dismissed, a few that contained specific details not released to the public, such as a broken security light at her house and the Apple Watch she was wearing, were considered potentially legitimate. These notes demanded millions in Bitcoin and one even claimed to identify the kidnappers.
The FBI has been investigating the veracity of these letters for months but has not reached a definitive conclusion. "Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such," the FBI's Phoenix field office said in a statement. Director Kash Patel declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigation, stating only that the FBI continues to assist state authorities.
Investigators attempted to verify the credibility of the ransom demands by sending a small transaction to the sender's Bitcoin wallet. However, the wallet showed no further activity, and there was no acknowledgment of receipt, raising doubts about whether the senders actually possessed Guthrie and were prepared to negotiate.
Further complicating the investigation, a suspect captured on Guthrie's doorbell camera attempting to disable it on the morning of her disappearance appeared to be an amateur. Legal experts have suggested that a sophisticated criminal operation would likely avoid a high-profile kidnapping and a complex cryptocurrency ransom scheme.
The task force is continuing efforts to trace the authors of the ransom notes by analyzing the proxy servers used to obscure their identities. Despite detaining and releasing persons of interest, canvassing gun stores, and analyzing potential DNA evidence, the investigation has yet to yield a breakthrough as it enters its fifth month.