TMZ founder Harvey Levin shared a line from an alleged ransom note in connection with the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie.
“I’ll read you one line from the ransom note we received,” Levin, 75, said in a Monday, February 9, interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett after a second ransom deadline passed. “They say, ‘It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible.’”
Earlier this month, TMZ and local news stations in Tucson, Arizona, reported receiving as yet unverified ransom notes in connection with Nancy’s February 1 disappearance from her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson. Nancy, 84, was last seen on the night of January 31, and police believe she was abducted.
During an FBI press conference on Thursday, February 5, FBI Phoenix special agent in charge Heith Janke confirmed that the notes mentioned two ransom deadlines, the first of which was 5 p.m. local time on Thursday. The second deadline was set for 5 p.m. on Monday.
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Tucson television station KGUN, which received one of the ransom notes sent to local media, said the potential kidnappers demanded $6 million in bitcoin.
On Monday, FBI officials said in a statement that they were “not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, nor have we identified a suspect or person of interest in this case at this time,” per NBC News.
Earlier on Monday, Savannah, 54, shared a fresh appeal for information in connection with her mother’s disappearance in an emotional Instagram video.
“I just wanted to come on and share some thoughts as we enter into another week of this nightmare,” the Today show cohost said, thanking the public for their well wishes in the week since Nancy went missing.
“We believe that somehow, some way, [Nancy] is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place,” Savannah continued. “We believe our mom is still out there.”
Savannah urged the public to continue to support the search for her missing mom.
“We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken, and we don’t know where, and we need your help,” Savannah said. “So, I’m coming on just to ask you, not just for your prayers, but no matter where you are, even if you’re far from Tucson, if you see anything, you hear anything, if there’s anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement.”
On Saturday, February 7, Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron, shared another video message in which they agreed to pay a ransom to Nancy’s potential kidnappers. That video came after local news outlet KOLD said it received a second message in connection with Nancy’s disappearance.
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“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said on Saturday. “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.”
During a Friday, February 6, interview with CNN, Levin shared additional details about the letter TMZ received last week.
The alleged ransom note described Nancy as being “OK, but scared” and said she was “aware of the letter and the demands” made in it.
“It felt like somebody means business. When you read it, it’s very detailed,” he said.
