The recipient of a batch of suspected ransom demands related to the Nancy Guthrie case disputes reports suggesting the abductors apologized for the 84-year-old’s purported death. Harvey Levin, in a video on TMZ’s YouTube, addressed rumors surrounding the ransom note.
“I want to discuss communications I had with the FBI about Nancy Guthrie,” Levin stated. He refuted claims that the ransom note contained apologies for Guthrie’s abduction or mentioned her demise. “There were no statements about her being dead or the kidnappers expressing regret.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, leading the local investigation, confirmed that the FBI is managing the investigation due to multiple ransom demands—some of which might be real. The FBI has not commented on recent reports about these demands.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from the Catalina Foothills near Tucson in early February 2026. A missing person billboard is displayed in Phoenix to raise awareness. Different media outlets, including TMZ, received ransom demands along with follow-up messages claiming Guthrie had died and was buried.
A federal law enforcement source confirmed to Fox News Digital that the FBI performed a test by depositing small amounts of cryptocurrency into a Bitcoin wallet linked to a suspected ransom note. The authenticity of these demands remains uncertain.
Speculation about a “wrench attack” pattern arises, suggesting an overseas hacker hired local criminals to target Guthrie, aiming to extort her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, co-host of “Today.”
Levin mentioned receiving emails from an individual claiming knowledge of Guthrie’s situation, asking for $100,000. This was significantly lower than the original $4 million demand. The person claimed to know the kidnappers and was concerned about possible implications due to past legal issues.
This individual also claimed a burglary conviction and expressed a desire to “go underground” to avoid danger. No money was exchanged, according to Levin, and efforts to verify the claims were hindered when FBI contacts ceased communication.
Anyone with information on the Nancy Guthrie case can contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. A combined reward exceeding $1.2 million is available for tips leading to case resolution. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Tucson’s Crime Stoppers, affiliate 88-Crime, at 1-520-882-7463.