Founder of TMZ Harvey Levin is investigating after a report emerged that three notes were posted on a website and other media outlets about Nancy GuthrieThe FBI's disappearance was deemed a hoax.
Reuters reported on Tuesday, June 29, that the FBI destroyed three notes, including two obtained by TMZ, in the months since Nancy, her mother Today show cohost Savannah Guthriedisappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
One of the notes obtained by TMZ and local Tucson outlets in February demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for Nancy's return. Another letter obtained by TMZ, which the company reported on June 26, claims to know the suspects who kidnapped Guthrie. The anonymous sender also claimed to have photos of the “main character” in the kidnapping and Nancy on the day of her alleged death, which they would share in exchange for money.
TMZ did not receive a second letter in February that said Nancy had died and did not claim money. The contents of that note, obtained by Tucson media, were first reported in late June.
In a video published by TMZ on Wednesday, July 1, Levin, 75, said he spoke with an FBI official who told him “the two ransom notes may be genuine,” referring to two notes obtained by TMZ and local Tucson news stations in February.
Levin added, “This person said, 'They're more legitimate than they are.' They haven't decided that it's really true, but they haven't decided that it's false. “
Levin said the official told him it was “unlikely” that the letters TMZ obtained asking for money for information were “real.” He also pointed out that the FBI “hasn't brought that down.”
Regarding the disputed Reuters report, which cited an unnamed FBI official, Levin said he was told by his FBI source, “This is a big agency, and there are a lot of agents in this case. If you talk to all of them, their opinions will be different, so it depends on who you talk to.”
The FBI's Phoenix office, which is investigating Nancy's disappearance, said in a statement Wednesday, “The FBI and its task force partners received multiple ransom notes during the course of this investigation. Some were considered unauthorized extortion attempts. Some ransom demands may be legitimate and are still being investigated.”
“This case remains under investigation as a kidnapping-for-ransom case. The FBI has and will continue to provide all possible assistance in the investigation – however, local authorities are still leading the way.”
The local sheriff Chris Nanos of the Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona said in a statement, “Throughout this investigation, the Pima County Sheriff's Department received information about possible ransom notes related to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. All tips and leads are considered valuable and are being forwarded directly to our detectives, who continue to work in cooperation with the FBI.”
“Any questions regarding the alleged ransom notes should be directed to the FBI,” Nanos added.
