FBI Expert Breaks Down Ransom Investigation

What this episode covers

Nancy Guthrie ransom notes: How does the FBI determine whether they're real or fake? Five months after Today show host Savannah Guthrie's mother disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home, the mysterious letters claiming to be from her kidnappers remain one of the most controversial pieces of evidence in the investigation. Despite reports suggesting the ransom notes were fake, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos are still actively investigating the letters. So what’s actually happening behind the scenes? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with FBI Behavioral Analysis Expert Morgan Wright to help us understand how the FBI analyzes - and debunks - ransom notes. What are the first red flags investigators look for? What makes a ransom demand credible? And what does an FBI expert make of this “parasitic” evidence in Nancy’s case? While authorities sort through fact vs. fiction, the Guthrie family remains in limbo as they grieve this mysterious disappearance. If you’ve been following the Nancy Guthrie case from day one, this conversation offers a look inside the FBI's investigative process and answers many of the questions we’ve been asking about the ransom notes, the investigation, and what could happen next.

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How long is this episode of Criminally Obsessed?

This episode is 19 minutes long.

When was this Criminally Obsessed episode published?

This episode was published on July 2, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Nancy Guthrie ransom notes: How does the FBI determine whether they're real or fake? Five months after Today show host Savannah Guthrie's mother disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home, the mysterious letters claiming to be from her kidnappers...

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