UMVA has learned that a shocking twist has emerged in the Nancy Guthrie case, with a ransom demand recipient pushing back against claims that the potential abductors were apologetic over the 84-year-old's purported death.
Harvey Levin, who received a batch of suspected ransom demands, revealed in a video that he had communications with the FBI that he hadn't disclosed until now. He specifically addressed a ransom letter that was sent to him, which did not contain an apology or a claim that Nancy Guthrie had passed away.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that the FBI has been handling the investigation into numerous ransom demands, some of which were bogus while others had potential to be real.
Levin emphasized that the ransom note sent to him made no reference to Nancy Guthrie's death or the kidnappers apologizing, instead stating that she was scared but OK. This contradicts reports that suggested the kidnappers were apologetic and claimed Guthrie was no longer alive.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that local media outlets also received similar ransom demands through their online tip boxes, at least initially. One of these demands claimed that Guthrie had died and been buried.
A federal law enforcement agency tested the validity of the ransom demand by depositing small sums of cryptocurrency into a Bitcoin wallet. However, it remains unclear whether the sender of the second note was credible or if any of the ransom demands were genuine.
The ransom demands fit a possible pattern that investigators have been exploring, which involves a "mastermind" computer hacker potentially hiring local thugs to kidnap Guthrie in an effort to extort her daughter, Savannah Guthrie.
Levin disclosed that a series of emails were sent by someone claiming to have knowledge of the case, referencing Guthrie's death. This individual asked for $100,000 in exchange for information and expressed fear of being implicated due to a past burglary conviction.
The individual never received any money, and when Levin offered to have TMZ put up the money to see if it led to a resolution, he claimed that his sources at the FBI stopped responding.
Anyone with information on Guthrie's case is urged to come forward, with a combined reward of over $1.2 million for information that cracks the case.
