DistantNews
Support us
🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

FBI determines Nancy Guthrie kidnapping notes to be fakes, source says

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Federal investigators have determined that three messages related to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, are fake.
  • The messages included two ransom notes and a third communication claiming knowledge of the kidnappers' identities.
  • The FBI's assessment raises doubts about the initial premise that Nancy Guthrie was abducted for ransom, as the investigation continues.

Federal investigators have concluded that three messages circulating in news media reports concerning the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the elderly mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, are inauthentic. An FBI official confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday that the messages, including two ransom notes and a third communication claiming to know the kidnappers' identities, are fake.

None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine.

— FBI officialAn FBI official speaking to Reuters about the authenticity of the messages related to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1, 2026. The FBI's assessment that the ransom notes are not genuine casts doubt on the fundamental premise of the investigation, which initially suggested an abduction for ransom. The Pima County Sheriff's Department, leading the overall investigation, declined to comment on the FBI's findings, citing an agreement to refer all inquiries regarding ransom notes to the federal agency.

"None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine," the FBI official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of an active investigation. A second law enforcement source familiar with the matter corroborated the FBI's assessment. The sheriff's department spokesperson, Angelica Carrillo, stated that the case remains an active investigation and that DNA samples and video evidence are still under forensic analysis.

We don't have any updates, other than this is still an active investigation.

— Angelica CarrilloPima County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo, commenting on the ongoing investigation.

All three messages were initially delivered to various media outlets, including the celebrity news site TMZ.com, before being handed over to authorities. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings had previously posted video messages on social media, referencing ransom demands and pleading for their mother's return, with Savannah stating, "we will pay."

we will pay.

— Savannah GuthrieSavannah Guthrie's statement in a video message, referencing ransom demands for her mother's return.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog