Nancy Guthrie case: FBI says the ransom notes were all fake
Federal investigators have concluded that all three ransom-related messages in the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother are fraudulent. Here’s what that means for the case, which remains open.
There’s a significant update in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
According to a new report, the FBI has determined that the ransom notes sent in the case are fake. Here’s what investigators are saying, and what it means going forward.
What the FBI concluded
The news came Tuesday from Reuters, which cited an FBI official and a second law enforcement source familiar with the case.
“None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” the FBI official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
The assessment covers three separate messages: two ransom notes that surfaced in early February, shortly after Guthrie went missing, and a third, more recent message from someone claiming to know the identities of those responsible.
The notes in question
Here’s a rundown of the messages investigators have now dismissed.
The first note, reported by several outlets, demanded a payment of millions in cryptocurrency, with two deadlines in early February. The second claimed Guthrie had already died.
Investigators believe the first two notes came from the same sender, but not from anyone actually connected to her disappearance. The third message surfaced last week.
In an effort to test whether the first demand was real, and possibly trace whoever sent it, the FBI deposited a small amount of cryptocurrency into the wallet listed in the note. The money was never accessed.
The background
Here’s the context on the case itself.
Nancy Guthrie, who was reported to be in fragile health with limited mobility, was last seen on January 31 at her home in the Tucson, Arizona area, after spending the evening with her eldest daughter. Authorities have said she was taken against her will.
The case drew national attention because of her daughter’s high-profile role at NBC News. Savannah Guthrie, 54, and her siblings made public appeals on social media, with the family offering a $1 million reward for information. In one video, Savannah said simply, “We will pay.”
Where the case stands now
The investigation remains active.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the case, declined to comment on the FBI’s findings, referring questions to the federal agency. Sheriff Chris Nanos had previously voiced doubt about the most recent message.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed the case is still open, and said DNA samples and surveillance footage continue to be analyzed. No arrests have been announced, and Nancy Guthrie has not been found.
The bottom line
So here’s the deal.
The FBI’s conclusion that all three ransom messages are fake is a significant development, in part because it raises questions about the kidnapping-for-ransom theory that shaped the early stages of the investigation.
It’s also a reminder of a difficult reality in high-profile cases: intense public attention can draw out fraudulent notes and false tips that pull investigators away from the real work.
For now, the case remains open and unresolved. The Guthrie family continues to wait for answers, and anyone with genuine information is urged to contact the FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
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Article compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs (entertainment editor) and the Clownfish TV newsroom.
Hat Tips:
Reuters (June 30, 2026), the originating report, verified for the FBI official’s “none of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine” statement, the second law-enforcement source’s confirmation, the assessment covering all three messages, the same-sender finding on the first two notes, and the cryptocurrency-wallet test
NewsNation and Forbes (July 1, 2026), verified for the timeline (January 31 last-seen date, the Tucson location, the early-February notes and the third message last week), the note contents (the crypto demand with two deadlines, the claim that Guthrie had died), Sheriff Chris Nanos’s prior doubts, the $1 million family reward, and the case’s ongoing status