Experts Provide Update On Why Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Hasn’t Been Released

Not long after Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, went missing, a ransom note was sent to TMZ demanding payment in bitcoin. Authorities have remained tight-lipped regarding the contents of the note, and Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security Brian Fitzgibbons believes it’s because the FBI has “nothing to gain.”

“The FBI doesn’t do things because they have nothing to lose,” Fitzgibbons said during a Wednesday, March 11, appearance on Crime Stories With Nancy Grace. “They do things when they have something to gain. In this case, I believe we do know quite a bit about the ransom notes that were sent to the media outlets.”

He added that there “may be a chance that copycat demands are sent out” if the note is “released, and that it distracts from the momentum of the case.”

Jeffrey Gentry, a certified forensic analyst, also weighed in on the topic, explaining that investigators often keep certain details private if they could help identify a suspect later.

“When there is something specific the police do not want to release, it’s usually because it’s unique and it can be a unique identifier of this suspect,” Gentry said.

“You don’t want to just release that information to the public because then everybody’s going to know it,” he continued.

Investigators can later use those details when questioning a suspect.

“When they start questioning this suspect, they want to be able to ask them about this specific information… That way they can know that they have the right person.”

Nancy, 84, has been missing since February 1, but authorities still don’t have any major leads in the case. Most recently, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News that he “absolutely” believed the suspect could “strike again.”

“We believe we know why he did this and we believe that it was targeted,” Nanos added. “Don’t think for a minute because it happened to the Guthrie family, you’re safe. No, keep your wits about you.”

People with any information regarding the case are asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). You may also contact your local FBI office, the nearest American Embassy or Consulate, or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.