FBI determines Nancy Guthrie kidnapping notes to be fakes, source says

[dalton99a]

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fbi-determines-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-notes-be-fakes-source-says-2026-07-01/

FBI determines Nancy Guthrie kidnapping notes to be fakes, source says
By Jana Winter and Steve Gorman
June 30, 2026 8:08 PM CDT

WASHINGTON, June 30 (Reuters) - All three kidnapping-related messages that have surfaced in news media reports about the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's elderly mother have been deemed by federal investigators to be fake communications, an FBI official ​told Reuters on Tuesday.

The FBI assessment of inauthenticity pertains to the two ransom notes reported in early February, days after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished, and a third, more recent ‌message from someone claiming to know the kidnappers' identities, the official said.

"None of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine," the FBI official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details of an active investigation.

A second law enforcement source familiar with the matter confirmed the FBI assessment of the ransom notes.

The disclosure that the FBI has discounted the veracity of the three notes - two of which were widely reported to have been communications from kidnappers - seemed to raise doubts ​about investigators' fundamental premise that Nancy Guthrie was abducted for ransom to begin with.

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[Whip-poor-will]

1. Sure

Who believes the kash fbi, sitting on child rape tapes, about anything ??????

[Lovie777]

2. At this point in time I do not trust -0- the F.B.I. ......................

[Boo1]

3. No shit

I said this when they first were reported.

A crime with this much notoriaty was going to have people trying to cash in on it.

I doubt she ever left that house alive.

[Jacson6]

6. I agree.

I doubt she ever left that house alive.

I agree. They found some of her blood on the front porch.

[walkingman]

4. That is so weird....why would anyone bother or take a chance to do that...something smells fishy?

[travelingthrulife]

5. Did Kash write them himself?

[Oneironaut]

7. Honestly I think someone close to her killed her and staged all this.

They staged the break-in and all of these notes. It never made sense to begin with.