Detective Explains Why Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Are Fake, Lists Three Reasons

Morgan Wright, CEO of the National Center for Open and Unsolved Cases, dismissed the alleged ransom notes in the Nancy Guthrie case as fake during a recent interview with journalist Brian Entin on his YouTube channel.

The latest remarks follow Wright’s earlier claim that the investigation should no longer be treated as a missing person case.

Author and Today co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, has been missing from her Catalina Foothills home since February 1. Her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, was among the last to see her after dropping her off at home following a family dinner on January 31.

The detective described the ransom notes as “parasitic communication,” outlining three reasons they should be considered fake.

“This whole thing with TMZ and the ransom notes, I call them parasitic communications and I never believed them from day one” he said. “First, there’s no proprietary information. Second, there’s no proof of life and they didn’t demonstrate that. Third, there’s no communication channel. So over time, I know nobody wants to hear it, but I’m an investigator and I’d like to say that this is a no-body homicide,” Wright said.

TMZ allegedly received an email demanding a large sum of money and “graphically” describing consequences if the ransom was not paid.

“I agree with you about the TMZ letters because there’s never been proof of life from what we know and there was never a real way to make contact and send real money,” Entin said. “So if it was a targeted abduction, then what was the motive?” he asked Wright.

“The sheriff must have had information in the house to call it a targeted abduction,” Wright said. “One hypothesis about why there has been no communication from the abductors is that the victim died. Every time you contact law enforcement, you increase the risk of detection. It’s been decades since anyone truly got away with kidnapping in the United States. So, I’d say this is a targeted abduction gone wrong not a burglary gone wrong,” Wright added.

Wright stressed that investigators may need to rethink their approach.

“At some point, you have to recognize this is no longer a missing person case,” he said. “Nancy was 84, was cardiac compromised, and was violently confronted at 2 a.m. in her own home. While people hope for her safe return, I take a pragmatic view… you must treat this as a no-body homicide,” he added.

Based on the evidence, he said there were likely two individuals involved. He said they intended to keep her alive, but she did not survive.

Nancy Guthrie has now been missing for 47 days, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continuing their investigation.