FBI: Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Are Fraudulent

The FBI has determined that all three ransom notes submitted following the abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie from her Arizona residence are fraudulent. These notes were sent to various news organizations and federal investigators in the months after her February 1 disappearance. An unnamed FBI official informed Reuters that none of the messages are considered genuine.

The first two ransom notes were sent by the same individual, according to the anonymous official. The initial note, which was also received by entertainment news outlet TMZ, demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for information regarding Nancy Guthrie's location. The second note, sent shortly thereafter, falsely claimed that Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after her kidnapping. A third, more recent message also contained claims about the identities of her abductors, which federal investigators have also deemed fraudulent.

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home on February 1, 2024. Nearly five months after the first note was sent, federal investigators confirmed their findings regarding the fraudulent nature of the communications. The FBI has provided several contact points for individuals with information regarding the case, including a tip line at tips.fbi.gov, the phone number 1-800-CALL-FBI, 520-351-4900, and 88-CRIME.

CNN was among the news outlets that received the ransom notes. Reports surfaced in June detailing the contents of the second missive, which alleged Nancy Guthrie's death. The FBI's conclusion that the notes are not genuine complicates the ongoing search for the missing octogenarian, now extending into its sixth month.