TMZ founder Harvey Levin is weighing in after a report emerged that three ransom notes sent to the website and other media outlets in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance were deemed fake by the FBI.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, June 29, that the FBI has dismissed three notes, including two received by TMZ, in the months since Nancy, the mother of Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
One of the notes received by TMZ and local Tucson outlets in February demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for Nancy’s return. Another note received by TMZ, which the outlet reported on June 26, claimed to know the identities of Guthrie’s suspected abductors. The anonymous sender also claimed to have footage of the “main guy” in the kidnapping and Nancy on the day she allegedly died, which they would share in exchange for money.
TMZ did not receive a second February note that claimed that Nancy had died and made no demand for money. The contents of that note, received by Tucson news outlets, were first reported in late June.
In a video published by TMZ on Wednesday, July 1, Levin, 75, claimed to have spoken to an FBI official who told him that “it is more likely than not that the two ransom notes are real,” referring to the two notes received by TMZ and local Tucson news stations in February.
Levin added, “This person said, ‘They are more legitimate than not.’ They have not determined it is for sure real, but they have not determined it is for sure fake.”
Levin said that the official told him that “it is less likely” letters received by TMZ asking for money in exchange for information “are real.” He reiterated that the FBI has “not discounted that either.”
As for the conflicting Reuters report, which cited an unnamed FBI official, Levin said that he was told by his FBI source, “This is a big organization, and there are multiple agents on this case. If you talk to all of them, their opinions are going to vary, so it depends on who you talk to.”
The FBI Phoenix field office, which is investigating Nancy’s disappearance, said in a statement on Wednesday, “The FBI and its task force partners have received several ransom notes over the course of this investigation. Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.”
“This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case. The FBI has and will continue to offer all assistance possible in the investigation — however, local authorities remain the lead.”
Local sheriff Chris Nanos of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona said in his own statement, “Throughout this investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding potential ransom notes related to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. Every tip and lead is taken seriously and is forwarded directly to our detectives, who continue to work in coordination with the FBI.”
“Any questions regarding alleged ransom notes should be directed to the FBI,” Nanos added.
