The ransom note for money in exchange for Nancy Guthrie was “carefully crafted” and included details not previously known to the public that lend to the authenticity of the note.
While the entirety of the note has not been released, more details are out.
Heith Janke, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix division, confirmed that there were two deadlines in the note, one on Thursday at 5pm, and a second one on Monday. Janke declined to confirm what, if any, the threats were if the deadlines were not met.
Camron Guthrie, Nancy’s son, issued a second video speaking for her family on Thursday near the first deadline.
Harry Levin, founder of celebrity news website TMZ, said he had reviewed the ransom note, which was also sent to two other media outlets in identical form. Levin stated that the Monday deadline was more consequential.
TMZ earlier reported that the alleged note demanded millions in cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s release. Levin confirmed on Thursday that the bitcoin address was real.
Law enforcement officials who spoke with the Los Angeles Times on conditions of anonymity said the ransom note is being considered legitimate because there were at least two details of Guthrie’s home — details about an Apple watch and a floodlight — that caused officials to take the note seriously.
“A lot of it is information that only someone who is holding her for ransom would know — some very sensitive information and things that people who were there when she was taken captive would know,” said anchor Mary Coleman at KOLD-TV.