FBI says some ransom notes in Nancy Guthrie disappearance may be legitimate

The FBI is actively investigating whether some of the ransom notes that surfaced after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home in January are legitimate.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the bureau said law enforcement has received several ransom notes over the course of the investigation.

“Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy,” the FBI said. “Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”

The statement follows a Reuters report citing a bureau official and another unnamed law enforcement source who said investigators had determined three previously publicized notes were inauthentic.

Guthrie, 84, was last seen Jan. 31.

Two ransom demands surfaced in February, and a third message from someone claiming to know the kidnappers emerged last week. All three were initially sent to media outlets, not to the family or law enforcement.

“The case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” the FBI said. “The FBI has and will continue to offer all assistance possible in the investigation.”

DNA and video evidence remain under forensic analysis.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on June 30, 2026. 

KTAR News’ Balin Overstolz-McNair and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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