FBI makes first arrest related to Savannah Guthrie’s mother kidnapping case after host asks her captors to ‘bring her home’

The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, continues, but the FBI just made their first arrest related to the case.

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heath Janke announced at a press conference on February 5 that a suspect had been arrested in connection with a fake ransom note sent to news outlets on February 3, which the FBI later denied was legitimate. “We have arrested one person for extortion and will file a complaint before the magistrate judge later today,” Janke said. “You will have more information from the FBI and our U.S. Attorney’s office here in Arizona as it becomes available.”

More from StyleCaster

He continued, “There is no evidence to connect this to Nancy’s case. It was someone who was trying to take advantage of this.”

Janke also issued a warning against those planning to offer false evidence as a way to secure a $50,000 reward for Nancy’s whereabouts. “My next message is to those fraudsters who are trying to take advantage of this situation. We will investigate and make sure you are held accountable for your actions,” Janke said. “This is an 84-year-old grandmother who needs critical medication for her health. You still have time to do the right thing before this becomes a worse, much worse scenario for you.”

TMZ reported on February 3 that it received an alleged ransom note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for the release of Savannah’s mother. According to TMZ, the note was sent Tuesday morning and included a specific bitcoin address to send the payment to, which the outlet verified was genuine.

The FBI’s arrest over the fake ransom note came less than a day after Arizona’s KOLD 13 news anchor Mary Coleman claimed to have received the note via email, saying it was “obvious after a few sentences” that it “might not be a hoax.”

In an appearance on CNN on February 4, she said, “It’s a lot of information that only the person holding her for ransom would know.” “Some very sensitive information and things that people who weren’t there when he was held hostage wouldn’t know.”

He continued, “We immediately forwarded that information to the sheriff’s department … a detective got back to us and asked us for more information so they could start looking for IP addresses, things of that nature, to try and figure out what’s responsible here.”

Coleman added that the note contained “a dollar amount, a deadline” and other details that “only Guthrie’s captor would know, so that definitely raised some red flags.”

Savannah and her siblings, sister Annie and brother Cameron, are also caught on the bogus note after posting an Instagram video with a plea to Nancy’s potential kidnapper. “We have also heard reports in the media about ransom letters,” Savannah said. “As a family, we are doing everything we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that he is alive and that you have him. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, contact us.”

Savannah referred to Nancy as “our heart and our home,” before expressing concern about her mother’s health. “She’s 84 years old,” Savannah said. “Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without medication. She needs this to survive. She needs this to not suffer,” she said.

She continued, “On behalf of our family, we want to thank you all for your prayers for our dear mother, Nancy. We feel them and we believe she feels them too. Our mother is a kind, faithful, loyal, fierce lover of goodness and light. She is funny, witty, and smart. She loves her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Fun and adventurous. She is a devoted friend. Talk to her and you will see.”

She ended the video with a message to her mother, “Mom, if you hear this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter, Nancy. We believe and know that He is with you even in this valley. Everyone is looking for you, Mom, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again. We talk to you every moment and we pray for you as we move forward. We love you. “Bring her home,” she captioned the post.

Best of StyleCaster

Sign up for StyleCaster’s newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.