The FBI has reportedly determined that the three ransom notes tied to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, including one claiming she had died, are fraudulent, as reported by Page Six.
According to Reuters, an anonymous FBI source said, “None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine.”
A second law enforcement source confirmed that assessment, aligning with the FBI’s conclusion.
All Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Fake! Federal investigators have concluded that all three kidnapping-related messages in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie are not genuine. The 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie went missing from her Tucson, Arizona home… pic.twitter.com/cLIf4hNXEM
— 24_7Reflections (@ColonSimeJphd8) July 1, 2026
Multiple ransom notes were sent to TMZ and Arizona news outlets after Nancy Guthrie, 84, was allegedly abducted from her Tucson home early on February 1.
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The first note, sent to TMZ, demanded a cryptocurrency payment “in the millions” with deadlines for February 5 and 9.
The second note, according to Air Mail, contained an apology for Nancy’s death and suggested returning her body in exchange for money, though it did not specify an amount.
The FBI official told Reuters that investigators tested the notes by transferring a small amount of cryptocurrency to the wallet listed in the messages. The money was never accessed.
Based on that test and “other unspecified means,” the FBI reportedly concluded the sender of the first two notes was not connected to Nancy’s disappearance.
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A third note, reportedly sent to TMZ last week and claiming to include video proof of Nancy with her alleged abductor, was also found to be fake, the FBI source said.
Reuters reported that investigators have not revealed exactly how they verified that the third note was inauthentic.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who has faced scrutiny for his department’s handling of the case, publicly cast doubt on the third note before the FBI’s confirmation.
“I think the FBI has done a number of arrests for false or fake ransom notes,” Nanos said Monday on KVOI AM 1030.
“It’s a shame that that happens, but I think we’re looking at another one of those today.”
Nanos added that false ransom messages cause unnecessary distress, saying, “People who call in fake ransom notes, people who claim for the sake of media and the family, they get out and disturb, in this case, an entire neighborhood.”
Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains active and is grounded in the belief that Nancy is still alive.
Led by Director Kash Patel, the FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to answers in the case.
Nancy’s daughter, Savannah Guthrie, returned to “Today” after taking two months off following her mother’s disappearance.
On air last week, the 54-year-old journalist addressed the ransom note falsely claiming Nancy had died, telling viewers that the family is “in agony.”
“We cannot be at peace,” Savannah said. “No matter how small, the reward is there. You can tell us, it can be anonymous. Please do the right thing.”
The Guthrie family’s plea underscores their ongoing hope for answers as investigators continue to track credible leads.
At the same time, law enforcement agencies have urged the public to treat circulating ransom claims with skepticism unless confirmed through official channels.
NEW STATEMENT - Savannah Guthrie releases new statement as we are now 5 months since Nancy Guthrie disapeared__________________________“It is five months of agony and unending trauma for our family. There is not a moment that goes by… pic.twitter.com/JM52FdsAdL— Adriienne F (@imadriienne) July 2, 2026
With the FBI ruling all three notes as fakes, the focus of the search has shifted back to finding Nancy and bringing clarity to what happened on the morning she vanished.
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