The FBI is clarifying the status of ransom notes received during the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, saying that while some communications have already been dismissed as fraudulent, others remain under active investigation and have not been ruled out.

The updated statement comes after conflicting reports about the authenticity of the messages, highlighting the complexity of an investigation that has remained unresolved for months.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona, home during the early morning hours of Feb. 1. Despite an extensive investigation involving local, state and federal authorities, no suspects have been publicly identified, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

As investigators continue searching for answers, ransom notes sent during the case have become a significant focus of public attention.

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that an FBI official familiar with the investigation had concluded that all three known ransom notes connected to Nancy’s disappearance were fake.

According to that report, investigators believed the communications were fraudulent attempts to exploit the high-profile case rather than legitimate messages from anyone involved in the kidnapping.

However, the FBI has now issued an official statement indicating that the situation is more nuanced.

In a statement released by FBI Phoenix on Wednesday, the bureau acknowledged receiving several ransom-related communications since Nancy disappeared.

Some of those messages, officials said, have already been determined to be extortion attempts with no legitimate connection to the kidnapping.

Other ransom demands, however, have not been eliminated.

Instead, investigators say they remain under active review because they may still prove to be authentic.

The agency emphasized that detectives continue evaluating each communication individually as part of the ongoing investigation.

Officials also stressed that Nancy’s disappearance continues to be treated as a kidnapping-for-ransom investigation.

The FBI’s statement suggests investigators are carefully distinguishing between messages that can be conclusively dismissed and those requiring additional forensic analysis.

Law enforcement agencies often avoid publicly disclosing investigative techniques used to verify ransom communications, particularly while a case remains active.

As a result, authorities have not explained exactly why certain messages remain under consideration while others have already been rejected.

The clarification has also reinforced the continuing partnership between federal and local investigators.

Although the FBI is providing investigative assistance, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department remains the lead agency responsible for the case.

That arrangement was reiterated after reporters questioned FBI Director Kash Patel about the investigation during an unrelated news conference.

Patel declined to discuss specific evidence or comment on the conflicting reports surrounding the ransom notes.

Instead, he explained that the investigation continues to be directed by local authorities while federal agents provide support as needed.

FBI Phoenix later repeated that position in its official statement, emphasizing that the bureau will continue assisting investigators throughout the case.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department likewise responded by reaffirming that detectives continue treating every tip and piece of information seriously.

Officials emphasized that all leads are reviewed and coordinated with federal partners.

The department declined to discuss the authenticity of any specific ransom communication, noting only that the investigation remains active.

The conflicting reports surrounding the ransom notes illustrate one of the biggest challenges investigators face during high-profile kidnapping cases.

Public attention often generates large volumes of information, ranging from legitimate eyewitness accounts to hoaxes, extortion attempts and fabricated claims designed to attract publicity.

Each communication must be evaluated carefully before investigators can determine whether it has any genuine connection to the disappearance.

That process frequently requires digital forensic analysis, interviews, financial tracking and other investigative methods that can take considerable time.

Meanwhile, Nancy’s family continues living with uncertainty.

Savannah Guthrie has largely avoided discussing investigative details publicly while balancing her professional responsibilities on NBC’s Today.

However, she has occasionally spoken about the emotional impact of the case and the difficulty of navigating months without answers.

In March, during an emotional interview with former Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb, Savannah reflected on the numerous ransom-related messages that had surfaced since her mother’s disappearance.

She explained that several notes had circulated throughout the investigation.

Although she believed many of them were probably fake based on what she had been told, she also acknowledged believing that two communications her family responded to appeared credible at the time.

Savannah also expressed frustration toward anyone who would deliberately send false ransom demands to a family already enduring unimaginable pain.

She said individuals responsible for such hoaxes should reflect seriously on the emotional damage they inflict by exploiting desperate relatives searching for loved ones.

Her comments underscored how misleading communications affect not only investigators but also families waiting for any sign that a missing relative might still be alive.

Every false lead can briefly raise hopes before ultimately deepening heartbreak.

More recently, additional attention focused on a third communication reportedly received by TMZ.

According to the outlet, the message claimed the sender possessed a hidden cellphone containing video footage allegedly showing Nancy with one of her abductors on what the writer described as “probably her last” day.

The message further alleged that the device contained photographs, names, addresses and identifying information about two people supposedly involved in the kidnapping.

TMZ reported forwarding the communication directly to the FBI for evaluation.

Authorities have not publicly commented on the specific claims contained in that message.

Nor have investigators confirmed whether it belongs among the communications still being actively analyzed.

Instead, law enforcement officials continue urging the public not to draw conclusions based solely on unverified reports or anonymous claims.

Since Nancy disappeared from her Tucson home in February, investigators have released relatively little information about the evidence collected during the case.

Officials have consistently declined to discuss many investigative details, explaining that preserving the integrity of the inquiry remains essential.

That limited public information has inevitably fueled speculation and intense media attention.

Every reported development—including the emergence of ransom notes—has generated widespread discussion across news outlets and social media.

Investigators have repeatedly reminded the public that genuine information should be directed to law enforcement rather than circulated online.

They continue encouraging anyone with knowledge of suspicious activity, unusual observations or relevant conversations to contact investigators directly.

Even details that appear insignificant could ultimately help detectives reconstruct Nancy’s disappearance or identify individuals connected to the case.

Authorities also caution that spreading unverified claims can complicate investigations by diverting resources toward false leads.

Despite months of searching, Nancy’s disappearance remains one of the most closely followed missing-person investigations in the country.

Investigators continue reviewing physical evidence, digital records and public tips while working with multiple agencies to pursue every credible lead.

Although questions surrounding the ransom notes remain unresolved, officials insist that every communication receives careful scrutiny before any conclusions are reached.

For Savannah Guthrie and her family, the official clarification offers little immediate certainty.

While some ransom demands have now been dismissed as fraudulent, investigators have not ruled out every communication received during the investigation.

That means the possibility remains that at least one message could still provide meaningful information.

Until detectives determine exactly what happened to Nancy Guthrie, authorities say the investigation will continue moving forward as a kidnapping-for-ransom case, with every credible lead examined in hopes of bringing long-awaited answers to a family that has now spent months searching for a loved one who has yet to be found.