• Family says “we will pay”: Missing Nancy Guthrie’s children posted a new plea for their mother’s return on social media, with “Today” host Savannah Guthrie saying, “we will pay.” Purported ransom notes had demanded millions in Bitcoin in exchange for her return and a second deadline is approaching on Monday.
• No suspects: There have been no suspects named as the search for Guthrie enters its eighth day. Law enforcement officials were seen at the home of Guthrie’s daughter Annie late Saturday, one day after drone footage showed deputies and agents searching the missing woman’s property.
• New ransom note details emerge: Guthrie’s purported abductor or abductors are demanding $6 million by Monday’s deadline of 5 p.m., CNN affiliate KGUN reported, citing a ransom note the station received. The note includes a threat to Guthrie’s life if the deadline isn’t met, according to KGUN.
• Officials continue investigating second note sent Friday: Authorities say they’re still looking into the authenticity of a second note sent to CNN affiliate KOLD on Friday about Guthrie. The note, which mentioned no deadline, included sensitive information, according to a KOLD anchor.
stion” FBI helped Guthrie’s children with new statement, former deputy director says
Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message released on Saturday.
Savannah Guthrie via Instagram/UGC/via REUTERS
Former FBI Deputy Director and CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe said there is “no question” in his mind that the agency helped the children of Nancy Guthrie craft their latest statement calling for their mother’s return.
“There is no question in my mind that every word of that statement was carefully honed with the assistance of the FBI experts who are advising the family,” McCabe told CNN’s Dana Bash today.
Those experts likely include hostage negotiators and other “very experienced agents” who “have dealt with many, many kidnapping and ransom situations,” he continued.
In the video released yesterday, Savannah Guthrie said that her family “will pay” for her mother’s release. Purported ransom notes had demanded millions in Bitcoin for her return.
The FBI “will provide their best advice and consultation” regarding how to respond to those notes, McCabe said today.
At the same time, the bureau will acknowledge “that the ultimate decision of what to do — whether or not to pay the ransom — that is exclusively the family’s prerogative and they’ll support them any way they can,” he said.
Report: Ransom letter demands $6 million for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return
New details have emerged about the ransom demands for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return, with CNN affiliate KGUN reporting that the purported kidnapper or kidnappers have demanded $6 million and threatened Guthrie’s life if a 5 p.m. Monday deadline isn’t met, citing a ransom note sent to the station.
Purported ransom notes sent to KGUN and other media outlets demanded millions in Bitcoin in exchange for her return, CNN previously reported.
Nancy Guthrie’s children posted a new plea for their mother’s return on social media, with “Today” host Savannah Guthrie saying, “We will pay.”
Authorities have said the decision to pay any supposed ransom is up to the Guthrie family.
“We are in communication with the family and while we advise and recommend from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke told reporters last week.
Officials are investigating the authenticity of a second message sent to KOLD on Friday about Nancy Guthrie. The note included sensitive information and no deadline, according to an anchor at the outlet.
There are still no named suspects as the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its eighth day.
