Nancy Guthrie’s purported kidnappers claimed in a ransom note sent to TMZ that the 84-year-old TV host’s mom is “safe but scared” — and knows exactly what chilling demands are being made for her return.
The note, which was sent to the outlet two days after Savannah Guthrie’s mom was reported missing over the weekend, demanded millions in bitcoin be turned over to avoid “consequential” repercussions.
“I will say the letter begins by saying she is safe but scared, and they go on to say she knows exactly what the demand is,” TMZ boss Harvey Levin told Fox News’ Sean Hannity late Thursday.
“They are, through us, telling the family exactly what they are demanding, and they are saying that Nancy is aware of it,” he said of the terrifying ordeal for the “Today” show co-host’s family.
“They are also saying … that this will be their only communication and they are done communicating and negotiating — here’s the deal and that’s it.”
“As the clock ticks, that’s one of the reasons the FBI and other authorities have gotten desperate here,” he added.
Without elaborating further, Levin said there were details included in the note that led him to believe that Guthrie — who authorities believe was taken against her will from her home in Tucson over the weekend — was still within the area.
He also added that the note highlighted insider details about her suspected abduction — including information about her Apple Watch and a damaged floodlight at her million-dollar home.
The note was sent before those details were publicly revealed, Levin noted, which spurred alarm that it was legit.
“That was what really put my antenna up and we immediately called the sheriff,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
“They do mention an Apple Watch, as the FBI said, and they do mention the floodlight, the damaged floodlight,” he added.
“There is something else, and it is the placement of the Apple Watch, which has not come out. If that placement is accurate, I’m sure that is something that puts this letter on the FBI radar.”
Investigators have already said they are taking the note, as well as several others sent to various media outlets, seriously.
It’s unclear if all of the notes included identical details.
Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, revealed that some of the notes had included a demand for money with a Thursday evening deadline and a second deadline for Monday if the first one wasn’t met.
A note emailed to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson on Monday included information that only the abductor would know, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.
“When we saw some of those details, it was clear after a couple of sentences that this might not be a hoax,” she said.
The details emerged after the “Today” show co-host and her two siblings released multiple messages pleading for their mom’s safe return — saying they are ready to talk but want proof their mom is still alive.
Authorities, meanwhile, said they haven’t yet identified any suspects or persons of interest.
“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference Thursday.
The sheriff said it is possible that Guthrie was targeted, but if she was, investigators don’t know if it’s because her daughter is one of television’s most visible anchors.
Investigators say Guthrie was last seen Saturday night when family members dropped her home after dinner.
Roughly four hours later, just before 2 a.m. Sunday, the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected, according to the sheriff.
At 2:28 a.m., the app on Guthrie’s pacemaker was disconnected from her phone.
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