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(NewsNation) — Nancy Guthrie has been missing since February, and investigators are still trying to determine whether a series of ransom notes offered real clues or misleading messages.
The case has drawn renewed attention after reports of conflicting ransom notes, including one saying the 84-year-old was alive and another claiming she had died and was “buried with nature.”
On NBC’s “Today,” Savannah Guthrie made an emotional plea for information.
“Somebody knows something,” she said. “We are in agony. We cannot be at peace … please do the right thing.”
Dispute of credibility of Nancy Guthrie ransom notes
On “CUOMO,” NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin said investigators believed at least some of the early ransom notes were authentic and taken seriously by both law enforcement and the Guthrie family.
“Those are the ones that I’m told the FBI believes are real, that Savannah Guthrie believes are real,” Entin said, referring to two notes sent to local TV stations shortly after Guthrie went missing.
He also pointed to separate emails sent to TMZ founder Harvey Levin from an unknown source claiming to have information about the case in exchange for money.
“The FBI took it seriously,” Levin said. “They felt that this person might indeed know.”
In this image provided by NBCUniversal, Savannah Guthrie, center, her mom Nancy, left, and Jenna Bush Hager speak, Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in New York. (Nathan Congleton/NBCUniversal via AP)
Former FBI special agent in charge Andrew Black acknowledged criticism of the early investigation, saying there were “a number of missteps,” while also defending the bureau’s overall approach.
“I do trust the FBI’s judgment on how to utilize resources,” Black said.
Entin said he still believes the case fits a kidnapping scenario but questioned whether the person behind the notes acted out of panic or guilt rather than planning.
“Does the person really feel bad?” he said, pointing to language in the second note.
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