Just hours after Savannah Guthrie’s brave return to the ‘Today’ show yesterday, media outlet TMZ says they received multiple ransom notes on Monday claiming to know where Nancy Guthrie’s body is.
“We got another letter today from this person, an email saying, ‘I know where her body is, and who the kidnapper is, give me half a bitcoin and I’ll tell you,’” TMZ host Harvey Levin said on air yesterday, shortly after Savannah Guthrie’s return to the ‘Today’ show.
That note claimed, “She is dead.”
After that first note was addressed on “TMZ Live” by Levin, another note came in from the same person, stating, “I saw her alive with them in the state of Sonora Mexico,” according to the lifestyle and media outlet.
According to reports, the pair of suspicious notes were sent from the same mystery person who, nearly two months ago, demanded one bitcoin in exchange for information related to Guthrie’s Feb. 1 disappearance.
TMZ said it’s alerted the FBI of the new notes. Levin noted that the sender has been “persistent” despite knowing that they could be charged with a crime for the hoax.
TMZ also reported that the alleged person behind the notes claims they will surrender the information for half a bitcoin with another half transferred to their wallet when there is a public arrest.
The person behind the notes appeared to vent that they have been “disregarded as a scam” by law enforcement.
“It’s unbelievable that millions have been wasted and yet here I am willing to deliver them on a silver platter since the 11th of february for a bitcoin but I am disregarded as a scam … they are free and the case is frozen but the ego’s remain hot when it comes to me,” the first letter reportedly states.
“Arrogance at it’s finest.”
According to the latest TMZ report, while the person is claiming to hold the valuable intel, they also claimed they had nothing to do with the “horrific crime” by insisting they’ve been out of the US for more than five years.
The person also maintained in the second letter that they’re not motivated by greed.
“I just want whats fair and to live peacefully with enough to start my life again quietly with out having to join a witness protection program,” the suspected individual claimed.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the baffling case, said in a statement it is aware of reports about possible ransom notes tied to the case.
“All tips and leads are being taken seriously and are forwarded directly to our detectives, who are coordinating with the FBI,” an agency spokesperson said.
Embattled lead investigator, Sheriff Chris Nanos, and his team have so far failed to turn up any suspects in the case.
Guthrie said late last month in a ‘Today’ interview that most of the ransom notes sent to her family were fakes. However, the TV star added: “I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real.”
Savannah Guthrie made her return to the airwaves yesterday morning, making no mention of her mother’s disappearance during the show.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.