The FBI today detailed the ransom letters that were reportedly sent to local media and national outlets.
“As with every lead, we are taking it seriously. We are in communication with the family. While we advise and recommend, from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family,” Heith Janke, FBI Phoenix’s special agent in charge, said today.
There was no proof of life or other demands included in the letter, he told reporters.
Janke added that one of the reported ransom notes “had facts associated with a deadline with a monetary value they were asking for.” He added that one also “talked about an Apple watch, and one talked about a floodlight.”
“We’re not going to go into specifics,” he added. “It’s very important that we keep this investigation moving forward, and we don’t want to put more facts out there that others can use to try to profit from this.”
Reports indicate that ransom notes have been sent to three news outlets referencing Guthrie. NBC News has not seen copies of them, and no law enforcement agency has substantiated the reports.