The FBI says three messages that surfaced in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are not authentic, according to Reuters.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today presenter Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home on January 31, 2026, and investigators have treated the case as a suspected abduction.
Authorities previously released doorbell footage from the property showing a man described as roughly 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in tall with an average build. Investigators believe he may be connected to the case.
In recent months, three messages said to be linked to the investigation surfaced publicly. One claimed Nancy had died five months after vanishing and said she had been buried outdoors.
Another alleged note said the 84-year-old was “safe but scared” and demanded $4 million in Bitcoin.
The messages were reportedly sent to several US news organizations before being passed to law enforcement.
The FBI has now determined that they were not real.
“None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” an FBI official told Reuters.
A second law enforcement source with knowledge of the matter also confirmed that assessment.
Before authorities said the notes were fake, Savannah addressed the case while hosting Today, urging anyone with information to speak up.
“I don’t have any comment on this story and I’m not involved in our coverage, but I can’t pretend I’m not here.
“And so since I am I wanted to just take the opportunity to ask people – to really to beg people – to come forward. Somebody knows something.”
She also spoke about the continued impact the case has had on her family.
“This is a new story today that is on your radar but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live everyday.”
Savannah said the family remained in deep distress.
“No matter how much I try to come out here everyday and smile and find that joy – and I will, I promise I will – this is the moment to tell you we need your help, we’re begging for your help and I’m not going to miss that opportunity.”
Authorities have laid out a timeline of Nancy’s final known movements. She took an Uber to her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home for dinner at around 5:32 pm and was brought back later that evening by family members.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the garage door opened at about 9:48 pm and shut again at 9:50 pm.
“It is that time we assume that Nancy’s home and probably going to bed,” he added.
Investigators say Nancy’s doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 am, with motion detected by the system around 25 minutes later.
At 2:28 am, her pacemaker app lost connection with her cellphone.
When Nancy failed to attend church, a friend alerted the family. Relatives went to the house at 11:56 am and found she was gone.
A 911 call was made at 12:03 pm, and deputies arrived at 12:15 pm.
Nanos told CBS News he believed Nancy had been taken during the night.
“She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly,” he added.
Several outlets later reported receiving messages described as ransom notes, allegedly seeking a large Bitcoin payment in exchange for Nancy’s release.
Nanos said investigators were examining the “possible ransom note(s)” and also confirmed that blood found on Nancy’s porch belonged to her.
Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron, later posted an emotional Instagram video asking for their mother to be returned.
“We are ready to talk,” Savannah said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive, and that you have her.”
The FBI later announced a $100,000 reward “for information leading to the recovery” of Nancy.
Camron Guthrie also shared a separate video appeal.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.”
Authorities said they were “aware of a new message” sent to CBS News’ Tucson affiliate KOLD.
The sheriff’s department added that detectives were “conducting follow-up” at Nancy’s home and in nearby areas.
In another social media video, Nancy’s children again pleaded for her safe return, with Savannah appearing to speak directly to the suspected abductor.
“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said, before adding: “This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Authorities were later seen leaving Annie’s home with a bag after 10:30 pm. PEOPLE reported that one official appeared to be wearing blue gloves.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the released images showed “an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance”.
Sharing the pictures on Instagram, Savannah wrote:
“We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”
Police also said a man was detained for questioning during a traffic stop, but he was released the next day.
The FBI provided the following description of the person seen in the footage:
“The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack.”
The reward was later raised to $100,000.
The FBI also said a glove found near Nancy’s home seemed similar to gloves worn by the person captured on the doorbell camera. It was one of “approximately” 16 items collected by investigators.
Subsequent testing, however, found no matches in the national DNA database.
Nanos also said the immediate family had been ruled out as suspects.
“To be clear … the Guthrie family – to include all siblings and spouses – has been cleared as possible suspects in this case,” Nanos said. “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”