RismadarVoice Reporters, July 2, 2026
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it is still assessing several ransom notes linked to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, with some considered potentially genuine while others have been dismissed as extortion attempts.
In an update released on Wednesday, the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office said the case remains an active kidnapping-for-ransom investigation.
“This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” the agency said, adding that investigators have received multiple ransom notes since the 84-year-old disappeared in February.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. Authorities said she was last seen on the night of January 31.
Ten days after her disappearance, the FBI released doorbell camera footage showing an armed, masked man outside Guthrie’s residence on the morning she vanished. The individual has since been identified as a suspect in the investigation.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is working alongside the FBI, confirmed it has received information relating to possible ransom notes throughout the investigation.
According to the department, every tip and piece of evidence is being thoroughly examined and shared with detectives handling the case.
The FBI’s latest statement follows reports questioning the credibility of the ransom messages. However, the agency clarified that while some notes have been ruled out as attempts to extort money, others remain under active investigation.
Investigators have previously examined at least two notes sent to media organisations after Guthrie’s disappearance. One claimed she was alive and demanded payment in cryptocurrency for her release, while another suggested she had died.
Following the second message, Savannah Guthrie publicly appealed for her mother’s safe return, saying the family was willing to pay for her release.
The television host renewed that appeal last week, describing the family’s ordeal as deeply painful and urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We’re begging for your help,” she said. “Please, if you know anything, no matter how small, you can tell us anonymously. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her.”
Authorities have continued to urge members of the public with relevant information to assist the ongoing investigation.
