The investigation continues into the disappearance of host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, but the FBI just made their first arrest related to the case.
Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke announced at a press conference on February 5 that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the fake ransom note sent to news outlets on February 3, which the FBI later denied was valid. “We have made one arrest related to an imposter ransom demand, and a complaint will be presented to a magistrate judge later today,” Janke said. “You will get more on this from the FBI and our US Attorney’s office here in Arizona when it becomes available.”
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He continued, “There is no evidence to connect this to Nancy’s case. It was someone who was trying to profit from it.”
Janke also issued a warning against those planning to offer false evidence as a way to secure the $50,000 reward for Nancy’s whereabouts. “My next message is for those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation. We will investigate and make sure that you are held accountable for your actions,” Janke said. “This is an 84-year-old grandmother who needs vital medication for her well-being. You still have time to do the right thing before this becomes a worse, much worse scenario for you.”
TMZ reported on February 3 that it received a ransom note allegedly demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for the release of Savannah’s mother. According to TMZ, the note was sent Tuesday morning and included a specific Bitcoin address for the payment to be sent, which the outlet verified was real.
The FBI arrest over the fake ransom note came less than a day after Mary Coleman, an anchor for Arizona’s KOLD 13 News, who also received the note via email, claimed it was “clear after a few sentences” that it “might not be a hoax.”
“A lot of it is information that only someone who was holding it for ransom would know,” she said in an appearance on CNN on February 4. “Some very sensitive information and things that people who weren’t there when she was taken captive didn’t know.”
She continued, “We immediately sent that information to the sheriff’s department… One of the detectives went back to us and asked us for more information so they can start looking for an IP address, things of that nature, to try to find out which people are responsible here.”
Coleman added that the note “included a dollar amount, an expiration date” and other details that “only the Guthrie kidnapper would know, so it definitely raised some red flags.”
The arrest due to the fake note also happened after Savannah and her siblings, Annie’s sister and Camron’s brother, posted a video on Instagram with a plea to Nancy’s potential kidnapper. “We also heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” said Savannah. “As a family, we are doing everything we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that it is alive and that you have it. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, contact us.”
Savannah went on to call Nancy “our heart and our home,” before expressing her concern for her mother’s health “She is 84 years old,” said Savannah. “Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to stay alive. She needs it not to suffer,” she said.
She continued, “On behalf of our family, we want to thank you all for the prayers for our beloved, Nancy. We feel them and we continue to believe that you feel them too. Our mother is a good, loyal, loyal, loving woman. She is funny, spunky, and clever. She loves her grandchildren and her coats. she loves fun and adventure. She is a friend. a devotee is full of kindness and knowledge.
She ended the video with a message to her mother, “Mom, if you are listening to this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter, Nancy. We believe and know that even in this valley He is with you. Everyone is looking for you mom, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again. We will talk to you every moment and pray for you in that day and Rejoice in that day. She called the place, “Bring her home.”
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