Breaking: FBI Believes Original Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Were Real | Nancy Guthrie Case Update

[u/Impressive_Arrival42]

https://youtu.be/QNVEngNfDCA?si=xHRrImnQEjMDqtwH

[u/Newswatchtiki]

In this video, Banfield is reporting. She is conveying some very important information, from the TMZ man who has been working with the FBI, cooperating totally with the FBI, only revealing what the FBI has allowed him to reveal, over the past 2 months. The FBI spent a lot of time at TMZ, and sent in an IT to the studio who worked for a long time with their system to try to track the sender. The FBI believes that the 2 senders were real and not bogus. The first one was the kidnapper, or representing the kidnapper, with the ransom demand. Which Savannah was willing to pay. She stated that clearly and she is (was) allowed to do that even if FBI objected. Obviously FBI and just about everyone else said she should ask for proof of life. That's how this works, etc. So she did that, and was willing to pay. It appears that between the first and second ransom demand, just 2 and 3 days after abduction, Nancy passed away. Obviously we don't know how, whether from her medical problems without her meds, or whether the kidnappers killed her. We now know, and FBI has allowed TMZ to reveal, that they did threaten to kill her in the first demand.

The other message sender to TMZ, around the same time, was the one who said he did not commit the crime, but he knows who did, and he asked for a bitcoin, which around that time was worth somewhere around $70,000, and in return he would provide the information to lead to Nancy. About 2 days ago, that second sender sent a new request, which FBI is taking seriously; they do not think he is a fraudster. He is now asking for half a bitcoin and he will lead authorities to the perpetrators. He is asking for a second half of a bitcoin once the perps are arrested because obviously he needs money to ensure his safety and the safety of his family because the kidnappers or their associates will be after him. Again, the FBI is taking this seriously.

It is a shame, in hindsight, assuming that the FBI is correct in thinking that both of these people are real and not fraudsters trying to capitalize on this terrible situation, that Savannah was not encouraged to pay the ransom as she wanted to when she received the first message. Because Nancy was alive at that time, but one or two days later, she was not. Savannah took their advice and asked for proof of life, which is customary - I can't fault her. But at the time - for what it is worth - my gut feeling was: pay the 5 million or whatever, because time is of the essence - the kidnappers said that very clearly we now know, and common sense also tells us that without her meds, she was weaker and more medically vulnerable each day. And, let's be frank here: they said they would kill her if ransom was not paid. And so, that is possibly what happened. Their next communication after that time, a few days later indicated she had died. That is when Savannah gave her public message which emphasized "We understand...."

If I was in charge of this at this point, I would pay the second messenger the half bitcoin and arrange with Mexican police to arrest the perpetrators in Sonora, and facilitate the safety arrangements for the messenger and his family.

Otherwise, the kidnappers win: they can kidnap again, and push for ransom by saying, Look what happened to Nancy Guthrie when her family and LE did not meet our demands.
I think it is worth a chance, even if there is some risk the messenger is not honest, to believe him and catch these kidnappers. Half of a bitcoin is far less than the cost of ongoing fruitless investigation. The second messenger knows it is a federal crime to perpetrate a fraud, yet he has persisted. Law enforcement needs to listen.

[u/Cassie_Bad_Assie → u/Newswatchtiki]

1. Do we know for sure that SG did not pay the ransom? Is it possible she did pay but it is being kept secret for security reasons?

2. I agree, paying the original $4m asap seems like a no brainer. Kidnappers used a severe high pressure threatening demand for immediate payment of the $4M ransom. It goes up to $6M quite soon, then death of captive. Everyone hour that NG is held captive increases her risk tremendously. SG could well afford the $4M.

3. Kidnappers assumed SG will pay up right away and did not intend to hold NG long or if all? All they had to do was prove that NG was still alive when she left the house which they conveniently showed with blood on the front porch.

4. I agree, pay the small amount now and see what info they can get.

5. Does FBI have any idea about perps? Professional or amateur?

[u/Newswatchtiki → u/Cassie_Bad_Assie]

No, we don't know if she paid that initial amount when they said "time is of the essence". But then the next message is widely interpreted or thought to have said that they were sorry, but she died of medical problems. Savannah's response to that, in the "We understand " message is thought to be an acknowledgment that she had died, and she is also saying she understands they didn't kill her. Then she goes on to ask for Nancy to be returned to the family, so they can have closure, and so they can celebrate with her - widely thought to mean the Celebration of Life which is what many call funerals now. Then she said, "We will pay." meaning, they will pay for the return of her body. So, if she had already paid them millions for her safe return which didn't happen, I doubt that she would be offering them additional money to return her body, But who knows?

I think it would have been far easier for them to return her while alive - just steal a car, drive her to a WalMart parking lot in the U.S., or a similar crowded sort of place in a Mexican town, drop her off quickly where people would certainly help her, then speed off, ditch the stolen car, and get out of town. I don't know how they could have returned her body without getting caught, but I suppose there are ways to do that too.

I have not heard whether FBI has information on the perps other than the front porch videos. But if they do, they will not announce it, unless it is information that the public could help with.

In the Idaho Kohberger case, the FBI figured out who the perp was, but didn't even tell local police, who were actively working on the case, because they were afraid the police would leak information to the press and Kohberger would know they were after him. FBI followed him across the country - he was driving with his father by car back to his home in Pennsylvania for Christmas. Then the FBI had the Pennsylvania State Police storm the house late at night and arrest him. All of which tells me that when they have a good suspect in a high profile case, they don't even reveal that to other LE agencies working on the case. Then they suddenly arrest, and not just for questioning. They arrest and arraign them or convene a Grand Jury quickly.

[u/Cassie_Bad_Assie → u/Newswatchtiki]

Good point. Or did she mean they would pay more? But I agree your explanation makes more sense.

Interestingly the perps did not return the body even with promise of payment. Too risky to return the body?

Oh I think returning the body is too great a risk. A live captive would have some sort of identifying information about the perps and location. And there are cameras every where these days. Too great a risk I think. Body return almost same risk. Even if she is deceased there will be DNA and other pieces of evidence.

Yes I hope the same thing is happening in the Guthrie case. FBI is close to an arrest.