The authors of the ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case may have inadvertently revealed that they were operating outside the United States due to one small detail in their message: they specified that the multi-million dollar demands be paid in US dollars, according to law enforcement experts.
“Why would you use that if you’re a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country, which also lends the potential for this being a scam,” former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told the New York Post.
“If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put six million,” he added.
Guthrie’s alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom to be paid in Bitcoin, but specified that the payment should be in USD. They set two deadlines: the first at 5 p.m. MT on Thursday, with the amount increasing if the payment was not made by this deadline and was instead submitted by a Monday deadline.
Since the note was first sent to news outlets last week, the sender has not contacted law enforcement or the Guthrie family. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the notes are genuine.
There are still no suspects or person of interest — and no suspect vehicles have been identified, The Post noted further.
“Detectives and agents continue to conduct follow-up at multiple locations. Details of that follow-up are not being released at this time,” the Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff’s Department noted on Sunday.
It’s now been eight days since Nancy disappeared. A new payment deadline, per a ransom note, is approaching later on Monday.
On Saturday, “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, flanked by siblings Camron and Annie, released a video begging for their mother’s safe return and telling Nancy’s abductors, “We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her.” Guthrie said the family was willing to pay for the octogenarian’s return.
“We received your message and we understand,” the “Today” anchor said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her.
“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay,” she added.
Billboards have been placed in high-traffic areas in states near Arizona to assist in the search for the grandmother who vanished on January 31.
A former high-ranking FBI official has expressed skepticism about the claim that Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy, is actually alive and being held by kidnappers.
“I’m very skeptical of this,” former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show” on Sunday.
“Is this really a kidnapping? Does somebody really have her, and is she really alive?” he said of those claiming to have her.
The former high-ranking fed expressed his concerns after Savannah and her two siblings took to social media to appeal to their mother’s suspected abductor. They implored the individual to return her and stated that they were willing to pay up to the demanded ransom of $6 million.
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Police were seen leaving Annie Guthrie’s home on Saturday, wearing gloves and carrying brown bags, as the search for her and Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, entered its seventh day.
According to NewsNation, photo flashes illuminated the shaded windows of Annie Guthrie and her husband Tommaso Cioni’s home in Tucson, Arizona, during a late-night search.
After nearly three hours, authorities emerged from the residence, still wearing blue gloves and holding brown bags, The Post noted in a separate report.
The family has also requested a police presence at their missing mother’s home.
“At the request of the Guthrie family, PCSD will maintain a presence at Nancy Guthrie’s residence for security,” a statement from the sheriff’s department says on X. “Media & the public are reminded to follow all traffic & private property laws.”
“No trespassing is allowed on the Guthrie property,” the statement continues. “Violations are subject to enforcement.”
