Key facts
- The FBI is treating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance as a kidnapping for ransom case.
- Three widely reported messages related to the case have been deemed not credible by investigators.
- Some of these messages were extortion attempts by imposters.
- Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home on January 31.
- Derrick Callella was charged with harassment for sending a fake ransom demand to Guthrie's family.
The FBI confirmed on Wednesday that the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of 'Today' show co-host Savannah Guthrie, is still being investigated as a kidnapping for ransom. This classification remains despite the FBI determining that some purported ransom notes in the case were extortion attempts by imposters.
Federal investigators have discounted three widely reported messages as not credible. Two of these were described as ransom notes. The FBI's Phoenix office stated that an unspecified number of notes lacking legitimacy have been received since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home on January 31. While some notes were determined to be illegitimate extortion attempts, others may potentially be legitimate and are still under investigation.
Guthrie, who has frail health and limited mobility, was last seen at her home on January 31. A friend alerted family members when she did not appear at church the following day. Relatives entering her home found her missing, with essential items like her wallet, cellphone, hearing aid, and medication left behind. DNA tests later confirmed that blood found on her front porch belonged to her.
Among the notes that gained attention was one received by KOLD-TV on February 2, two days after Guthrie was reported missing. This note set two deadlines for a ransom payment in Bitcoin. Another note, reported by NBC News, referred to Guthrie as having died without demanding payment for her body. Celebrity news site TMZ.com reported receiving a third note claiming knowledge of the abductors and possession of video evidence.
An FBI official told Reuters that the first two notes originated from the same sender but were assessed as not credible, as was the third note reported by TMZ. Separately, Derrick Callella was charged with harassment for sending a fake ransom demand via text message to Guthrie's sister and brother-in-law on February 4. Callella has pleaded not guilty, and a change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for Thursday.