FBI reportedly doubts ransom notes in Nancy Guthrie disappearance

The FBI reportedly believes three ransom notes linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, are not genuine.

Reuters reported Tuesday that an anonymous FBI source said investigators do not believe the notes are authentic. A second law enforcement source familiar with the case reportedly agreed with that assessment.

The notes were sent between February and late June. The first two, sent shortly after Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona, home on Feb. 1, demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin in exchange for her release. A later note reportedly claimed she had died and offered information about her body for the same payment.

A third note, sent to TMZ on June 26 and forwarded to the FBI, claimed the sender had a phone containing a video, photos, and identifying information related to Guthrie's disappearance. It also demanded payment in bitcoin.

TMZ said the third note appeared to come from the same source as the earlier messages.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos also expressed doubts about the notes, saying on a local radio show that investigators have seen similar fake ransom notes in other cases and suggesting these may be another example.

Authorities have not announced any arrests or confirmed the source of the messages. The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance remains ongoing.