A retired FBI agent is shedding light on the alleged ransom notes demanding bitcoin amid the ongoing search for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie.
“They are looking for attention,” Scott Curtis exclusively told Us Weekly. “I’m sure the FBI is delving into the owner of that email address through the service provider of that email and — for example, if they determine that the owner of that email address is located in Russia or China, they’re not going to take that person seriously.”
He continued, “And also, I wouldn’t pay a nickel to somebody unless they can prove to me the information they have is legitimate, right? Or proof of any information that they have.”
Curtis explained that he believes the FBI is “not taking this seriously” because the person has contacted TMZ, rather than the FBI directly.
“I think this is a parallel thing to the real perpetrators and the real events that happen with this, with this crime here, right?” he said. “I’m not putting a lot of value into it.”
The 84-year-old was reported missing on February 1 by a family member who called 911. She was last seen on January 31 by daughter Annie Guthrie. (Nancy shared daughters Annie and Savannah and son Camron Guthrie with husband Charles Guthrie, who died at age 49 after a heart attack.)
Amid the ongoing search, news broke that a note allegedly demanded payment for information on the person who may be responsible for abducting Nancy. TMZ shared on Wednesday, February 11, that they allegedly received a note around 5 a.m. PT from someone who wasn’t a potential suspect. The sender claimed they tried to contact the Guthrie siblings, but was unsuccessful.
“If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet. Time is more than relevant,” the alleged message read.
The outlet sent the note to the FBI. TMZ reported that the Bitcoin address included for payment in the new messages is not the same as the one sent in other alleged ransom notes received by local news stations.
One day later, TMZ reported that a second email has been received claiming to have information on Nancy’s disappearance. This note was sent just after 8 a.m. PT on Thursday with the person allegedly writing, “I am not being taken seriously.”
TMZ described the email as “ominous,” with the sender alleging that Bitcoin was necessary in order to avoid being “incriminated” like recently detained Carlos Palazuelos. (He was later released by the police after denying he was involved in Nancy’s disappearance.)
Savannah, meanwhile, has been absent from the Today show amid the ongoing search. She has shared statements via social media, urging Nancy’s potential abductors to “bring her home.”
“Our lovely mom,” Savannah wrote via Instagram on Thursday, sharing home videos with Nancy alongside a yellow heart emoji. “We will never give up on her. thank you for your prayers and hope.”
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