The FBI’s Phoenix field office confirmed on July 1, 2026, that a portion of the ransom notes linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie were illegitimate extortion attempts, while others remain under active investigation as potentially authentic. In a public statement posted on X, the office said: “Some (of the notes) have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.” Officials stressed that the overall case continues to be treated as a kidnapping for ransom.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, in the early morning hours of February 1, 2026. She left without her phone or essential medications. The disappearance triggered a large-scale search and investigation involving local law enforcement and the FBI. Nearly five months later, the inquiry was still ongoing when the FBI issued its clarification about the notes.
Several messages claiming to come from kidnappers had been sent to news outlets, including CNN affiliate KOLD-TV and TMZ. An early note demanded millions of dollars (reportedly in Bitcoin) for her release. A second message, sent days later, claimed Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after being taken, with the writers stating they had not intended to harm her and believed the cause was heart-related. The family and authorities had previously asked media organizations to withhold full details of the notes so that any future communications could be more easily authenticated. Savannah Guthrie and her family later acknowledged receiving one of the messages on social media without revealing its contents at the time.
The FBI’s July 1 statement directly addressed a Reuters report published the previous day that had cited an unnamed official claiming all three kidnapping-related messages were determined to be fakes. The bureau’s public clarification distinguished between proven hoax/extortion attempts and notes still being examined for possible legitimacy. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which leads the local investigation with FBI assistance, said every tip and lead continues to be taken seriously and forwarded to detectives. The department referred further questions about the notes specifically to the FBI.
In addition to the primary ransom communications, TMZ reported receiving other emails that claimed to offer information about Nancy Guthrie in exchange for payment. TMZ founder Harvey Levin publicly addressed some of the circulating rumors, clarifying which messages the outlet had actually received. A confidant of Savannah Guthrie told CNN that the family had been dealing with apparent extortionists for months, compounding the emotional strain of the unresolved disappearance.
After details of the second note became more widely known, Savannah Guthrie made a renewed on-air appeal to viewers, urging anyone with even the smallest piece of information to come forward anonymously. She emphasized that the family would never stop searching for their mother.
Later developments (after the July 1 CNN report) included the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI releasing the full text of two key notes on July 31, 2026—nearly six months after the disappearance—in an effort to generate new leads. The first note, dated February 2, demanded $4 million in Bitcoin (with a higher amount if the initial deadline was missed) and contained details intended to prove authenticity, such as references to items left at the scene. The second note, dated February 6 and addressed to the Guthrie family, claimed Nancy Guthrie had died of a medical condition shortly after the abduction, expressed regret, and stated she had been “buried in nature.” Investigators hoped someone familiar with the writers’ language or style might recognize the communications.
As of early August 2026, Nancy Guthrie remained missing and the investigation continued.
Source: CNN , Reuters, New York Times.