United States of America

Report: FBI Determines Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Notes Fake

Are these notes confirmed fakes or does mixed reporting suggest they may still be legitimate?

Published JUL 1

Report: FBI Determines Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Notes Fake

Story

Above: FBI assistant special agent in-charge Jon Edwards (R) speaks to the media in Tucson, Arizona, on Feb. 3. Image credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images

The Facts

The FBI has determined that all three kidnapping-related messages connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, are fake, an official told Reuters on Tuesday.
Reuters
FOX 10 Phoenix
The FBI's assessment covers two ransom notes sent to media outlets in early February and a third, more recent message from June 26 by someone claiming to know the kidnappers' identities. Investigators determined the first two notes originated from the same sender.
InStyle
ABC Australia
To test the first note's authenticity, the FBI deposited a small amount of cryptocurrency into the account specified in the message, but the funds were never claimed, leading investigators to conclude the note was not sent by anyone connected to the case.
People
Us Weekly
TMZ received over a dozen emails from the same individual claiming to know the kidnapper's identity and Nancy Guthrie's location. The sender's most recent message, sent in late June, offered to reveal a stashed phone containing video and photos in exchange for one Bitcoin.
TMZ
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a June 26 radio appearance that the FBI has made arrests in past cases involving false ransom notes, adding, "I think we're looking at another one of those today with what's been reported."
Us Weekly
InStyle
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Jan. 31 at her Tucson, Arizona home after dining with her daughter Annie Guthrie and son-in-law. DNA tests confirmed that blood found on her front porch was hers, and surveillance footage showed a masked, armed individual tampering with her doorbell camera shortly before her disappearance.
Just The News
ABC Australia

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The FBI has confirmed all three ransom notes in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance are fake, marking a dramatic shift nearly five months after the 84-year-old vanished from her Tucson home. The notes had fueled widespread speculation about a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme, but investigators are now dismissing every one as inauthentic. Authorities still believe Nancy was abducted, and the case remains active with a combined $1.1 million reward on the table.

Reuters

HELLO!

Narrative B

The Reuters report claiming all Guthrie ransom notes are fake appears to have blindsided investigators close to the case, and FBI Director Kash Patel declined to comment on it. Federal sources say the first two notes — one demanding millions in ransom, another claiming Nancy died — have never been formally ruled out and are still considered possibly legitimate. It's unclear why FBI sources chose this moment to leak the story, and even Savannah Guthrie has said she believes the original notes may be real.

Matt Finn on X