Nancy Guthrie case: Former FBI agent says mysterious email sender may be key to Savannah mother’s disappearance
Retired FBI agent Jason Pack believes the anonymous person who sent multiple emails to TMZ about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance may hold important information for investigators, no matter who they claim to be.
Parker’s comments come after TMZ reported that it had received a new letter from someone who had previously contacted the outlet.
The latest message purportedly claims the sender has video of Nancy’s abductor as well as footage from the day Nancy reportedly died. TMZ said it forwarded the email to the FBI. Authorities have yet to publicly confirm the veracity of the claims or announce any breakthrough.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home in Arizona in the early hours of February 1. Authorities believe she was kidnapped overnight. Despite months of searching and appeals for public assistance, the case remains unsolved.
Read more: Nancy Guthrie Update: What does the new ransom note say? FBI notified after new email
Former FBI agent urges anonymous sender to contact investigators
Retired FBI agent Jason Parker told Parade in an exclusive interview that the identity of the sender is less important than the information they may have.
“More importantly, the people who sent these emails knew something,” Parker said. He added that TMZ encouraged the sender to contact the FBI or Pima County investigators directly, which is the right thing to do. “You can leave a message anonymously,” Parker said.
Parker urged the person not to let fear stop them from talking to investigators. “The rewards are real,” he said. “Whatever fear is keeping that person silent is not worth it. It’s even less worth it when the family is still waiting for answers.”
Parker praises Savannah Guthrie
Parker also praised Savannah Guthrie for keeping a spotlight on her mother’s disappearance while continuing her broadcasting duties.
“Savannah handled an unimaginable situation with grace and professionalism,” Parker said, adding that she continues to seek help from the public while keeping her mother’s name in public conversations.
“She went to work, kept her mother’s name in the public conversation and never stopped asking for help,” Parker said. “This family deserves answers and they deserve peace.”
TMZ offers to pay ransom
TMZ founder Harvey Levin also revealed that the outlet was prepared to pay a ransom of 1 Bitcoin after an anonymous source claimed to have evidence of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Levine said TMZ immediately notified the FBI and offered to facilitate the payment if investigators approved it. However, he claimed federal agents later asked the outlet to “cease and desist,” saying they were making progress in identifying the sender of the email.
The FBI has yet to respond publicly to Levine’s claims.
