Authorities are weighing authenticity of new Nancy Guthrie message
Feb. 6 (UPI) — The FBI and local authorities are examining a new message received about missing Tucson, Ariz., senior citizen Nancy Guthrie, 84, to determine its authenticity.
Tucson-based television station KOLD reported that it received the new message on Friday morning and forwarded it to investigators.
The message’s contents have not been revealed, and KOLD said the sender’s IP address differs from the one used when a ransom note was sent to the television station on Monday evening.
The sender likely is using a secure server to hide its IP address, and the new note includes information that the sender thinks will help to prove it is authentic, the television station reported.
Federal and local investigators confirmed receiving the new message.
“The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie. Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity.
“The PCSD said everyone is still asked to call 88-CRIME or 1-800-CALL-FBI with any information, photos or videos connected to the case. The FBI said a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or an arrest in the case.”
President Donald Trump early Friday evening suggested the Department of Justice or the FBI soon might release “definitive” information regarding the case.
“We have some things that will maybe come out reasonably soon,” he told media while traveling on Air Force One.
“A lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation in the last couple of hours,” he said, adding that some “very strong clues” might lead to
Guthrie is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, who co-anchors NBC’s morning news show Today.
Investigators said she likely was abducted from her Tucson home early Sunday morning and are treating a prior ransom note that was sent to multiple news outlets as authentic due to the detailed information that matches what was found at her home.
Investigators also confirmed that blood found near her home’s entrance is Guthrie’s.
They have not received any proof of life regarding her condition, but they are working on the assumption that she is alive until proven otherwise, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters on Thursday.
He said three ransom notes had been received by different people, but two are fakes, while the third appears to be genuine.
The alleged author of one of the fake ransom notes, Derrick Callella, 42, was arrested and on Friday was charged with making a false ransom threat in the U.S. District Court of Central California.
He was released from custody after posting a $20,000 bond.