Nancy Guthrie ransom notes 'not legit' says forensic psychologist - what he thinks actually happened
A forensic psychologist has explained why he believes the Nancy Guthrie ransom notes are not 'legit' and shared a theory about what may have happened.
The 84-year-old mother of NBC News journalist and Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was allegedly abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home on January 31, prompting an investigation that has now spanned six months.
In the first ransom note, sent a day after her disappearance, the unknown source demanded $4 million USD in bitcoin for her safe return.
"If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed," they added.
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The note continued: "Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you."
The other note claimed Guthrie died shortly after she was taken.
Police believe the writer's writing style may be recognizable to the public.
Now, forensic psychologist Dr. Kris Mohandie said investigators made the right decision to release the notes, as it could generate new leads.
However, he cautioned: "I don't think the ransom note is legit, and I don't think that that letter days later is legitimate — but I think it's appropriate for law enforcement to investigate it just in case it might be," he told Fox News Digital.
Mohandie suggested the letters could reveal that the author is comfortable with technology, pointing to references to Bitcoin, email communication and the unusual demand for '$4 million USD.' He said these details could help investigators identify the person behind the letters, regardless of whether they ultimately prove to be genuine or a hoax.
"I certainly question the legitimacy of the so-called ransom note in which the individual is sending it to a news outlet, saying this will be a ransom, so on and so forth, talks about ‘we’ and then breaks into ‘I’ in terms of pronouns.
"There are a lot of things wrong with that ransom note, and it raised a lot of questions for me of veracity."
The forensic psychologist also questioned the use of 'perished' in place of a more common word in the second note.
"I understand why law enforcement needs to investigate these as potential leads, and it is a strategy that has worked," he said. "You look at Ted Kaczynski and putting that out there on the Unabomber case is what led to it being resolved. So they need to put that out there. Maybe somebody does recognize something unique in these writings."
As investigators look into the notes, Mohandie said the surveillance footage released by investigators remains the most significant publicly known evidence, adding that it appears more consistent with a burglary or home invasion than a sophisticated kidnapping plot which the notes might suggest.
"Unfortunately, I think this case is a simple matter of a burglary gone wrong and then attempts to cover things up," Mohandie said. "But that's a hypothesis and good investigators are investigating all hypotheses and following leads, and I think they're doing their job here."
According to the FBI, the man in the video is approximately 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall and has an average build. He was carrying a black Ozark Trail backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or, to remain anonymous, call 520-88-CRIME.
Timeline of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
January 31 - Nancy’s last appearance
Nancy Guthrie took an Uber to her daughter Annie Guthrie’s house for dinner at around 5:32 pm.
She was dropped home by her family a few hours later.
Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48pm and closed at 9:50pm, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
“It is that time we assume that Nancy’s home and probably going to bed,” he added.
February 1 - Nancy reported missing
Nancy’s doorbell camera is disconnected at 1:47am and the software detected movement around 25 minutes later.
At 2:28am, the 84-year-old’s pacemaker app is disconnected from her cellphone.
After Nancy’s friend notified her family that she missed church, they checked on her home at 11:56am and discovered she was missing.
They notified 911 at 12:03pm, and police arrived at 12:15pm.
February 2 - ‘I believe she was abducted’
Sheriff Nanos told CBS News he believed Guthrie was ‘abducted’ in the middle of the night.
“She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly,” he added.
February 3 - Alleged ransom notes
Several media outlets reported receiving ‘ransom notes’ which allegedly demanded a large sum of Bitcoin to be sent for Nancy’s release.
Nanos said they were looking into the ‘possible ransom note(s)’ and confirmed the blood found on the porch of Nancy's property was also hers.
February 4 - Savannah Guthrie speaks out
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, shared an emotional video on Instagram, pleading for their mother’s return.
“We are ready to talk,” Savannah said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive, and that you have her.”
February 5 - FBI reward
The FBI announced a $50,000 reward ‘for information leading to the recovery’ of Nancy.
Camron Guthrie posted another video, saying: “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.”
February 6 - ‘New message’
Authorities said they were ‘aware of a new message’ which was sent to CBS News' Tucson affiliate KOLD.
The sheriff's department said investigators were ‘conducting follow-up’ at Nancy’s home and ‘surrounding areas’.
February 7 - ‘We will pay’
Nancy’s children posted a video to social media in which Savannah appeared to address the alleged abductor.
“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said, before adding: “This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Authorities were seen leaving Annie’s home with a bag after 10:30 pm. As per PEOPLE, one official was reportedly seen wearing blue gloves.
February 10 - New images of armed suspect released
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, they show ‘an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance’.
Sharing the images on Instagram, Savannah wrote: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”
Authorities announced that they had detained a man for questioning ‘during a traffic stop’; however, he was released the following day.
February 12 - First description of suspect shared
The FBI said: “The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” - 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack.”
It also increased the reward to $100,000.
February 15 - Glove discovered
A glove discovered near Nancy’s property appeared to match those worn by the suspect seen on the doorbell camera, the FBI said. It was one of ‘approximately’ 16 collected by authorities.
However, later tests found that it did not have any matches in the national DNA database.
February 16 - Guthrie family ‘cleared’ as suspects
“To be clear … the Guthrie family - to include all siblings and spouses - has been cleared as possible suspects in this case,” Nanos said. “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”
February 24 - Guthrie family offer new reward
In addition to the FBI’s reward, the family announced a personal reward of up to $1 million.
“Somebody knows. We are begging you to please come forward now,” Savannah said.
February 25 - Federal prosecutors and FBI visit Nancy's home
“Federal prosecutors traditionally work with all levels of law enforcement and have done so throughout this investigation,” said Timothy Courchaine, US Attorney for the District of Arizona.
March 2 - Savannah seen outside her mother's home
According to the Associated Press, the Today host was seen placing flowers at the property with her family.
“We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country,” she penned on Instagram.
March 25 - Savannah gives first TV interview since her mother's disappearance
"It is unbearable, and to think of what she went through. I wake up every night, in the middle of the night, every night, and in the darkness, I imagine her terror, and it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought, and I will not hide my face, but she needs to come home now," Savannah told Today in a preview of the interview ahead of it airing in full.
"We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through.”
April 6 - Savannah returns to Today
Appearing emotional while speaking of her return to the show, Savannah thanked her colleagues for their support and asked for 'everybody’s prayers'.
June 22 - Alleged ransom note claims Nancy died
According to NBC News, a second note was sent to several news outlets days after her disappearance and claimed she died. It reportedly did not give details about the alleged death, nor did it request a payment for the return of her body.
June 23 - Savannah addresses alleged ransom note
Tearing up while on Today, she said: "I want to just take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward.
"Somebody knows something, and this is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day. And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace."
July 1 - FBI speaks out on fake ransom notes
Following reports that three widely reported kidnap notes are likely fakes, the FBI's Phoenix office tweets: "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."
July 2 - Man pleads guilty to faking ransom notes
Derrick Callella, 42, of Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty to two counts of harassment using a telecommunication device, admitting to calling and texting Guthrie's family.
August 2 - Trump speaks out
Responding to a question from a reporter about the Guthrie case, US president Donald Trump admits some people 'haven’t liked the way the sheriff’s run it', before adding 'but we would like to give them the benefit'.
Greg Harris