FBI Ghosting Media Over Ransom

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With trembling hands, I grabbed my phone and switched to Geio, saving about nine hundred dollars in the process, and never to be betrayed again Now that was bloody riveting. It feels good when the story ends with savings. It feels good to Gaeiko intntroducing the all new Maazda CXB, featuring more connection. Hey Coogle, where's the nearest Pilates class Safety that has your back More discovery on the cic Couts passassion and the details And more control in changing weather. We all newew Mazda CX five. More to move every side of you. See it in five films at mazdausa d. com slash five sides. Google is a trademark of Google LLC, seequences shortened and simulated I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything It's the rage bait feeles like it's trying to divide people If we got clear facts, maybe we could calm down a little NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there NBC News repeporting for America Hey there folks. It is Tuesday, june twenty third and Nancy Guthrie died shortly after she was kidnapped. That is according to information. from the ransom notes, information that has not been released to the public until now. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. Let me give the caveat. This is all according robes to several media outlets coming from several media sources, excuse me, several law enforcement sources, and robes some of these outlets also have seen the notes themselves. So this information we're getting now, Robes is pretty jarring. It's jarring and it's legitimate, and it makes sense because if you go back and you start remembering how this all unfolded, there was a real urgency. I mean, an immediate sense of urgency. We knew that Nancy Guthrie had medicine that she needed life saving medicine. She had medicine, she needed to alleviate pain. and there was a real concern. Remember, Pima County shheriff saying gott to find her in the next twenty four hours. It's crucial. And then all of a sudden, it didn't feel as immediate in the days that followed. It was still intense, it was still urgent there was a sense just hearing from the Guthrie family that there might have been some sort of a shift and now this makes sense. This does help us piece together, robes, a lot of what we in the public were not aware of but they certainly knew what was going on behind the scenes. Now I want to get you caught up here because there have been some competing headlines and some conflicting headlines and even some confusion about all these ransom notes that we'll get into. But the bottom line is we are getting information and details from these notes that we are seeing and hearing for the first claims now and the robes of confusion comes. We remember that was confusion initially Ransom notes coming. TMZ seems to be getting a new ransom note every hour that they're explaining that they've gotten. And then there wass another set of ransom notes that O outlets got in particular a Tucson television station. So this is what we're talking about kind of competing claims right now about two different sets of notes. but let's start R with what we're talking about with the note at least that the media outlets got in particular the Tucson television station. Yeah. So there was a first note that they got pretty quickly on that demanded millions of dollars in ransom. And so there were instructions, they were very specific. So and this is one that the Feds did deem was they believed a credible ransom note from The kidnappers, but then this second note They got. That's the one we're talking about. This is the one that's making headlines That said basically that Nancy Guthrie died shortly after she was abducted. and that the kidnappers mean to killer So either she died in some way from the abduction itself or shortly thereafter, maybe because she didn't have her meds. But when they said they didn't mean to kill her, they didn't say they didn't kill her I've only seen the phrase they didn't mean to kill her. So it still sounds like she died at their hands in some way, shape or form. And again, at this point, we're left to try to piece together now, Rones with some of these messages what might have happened to her because the bottom line is we still don't know. We still don't know where she is, who took her Why, I guess is because of money. But Ro, this has been an incredible mystery. These notes add they fill in some blanks, Rose, but they still continue to add to the mystery. and yes The authorities, the federal government, the federal officials think these notes are real. Res, That's that's chill this is the first again, the family knew this A week after she disappeared. Yeah We are now just hearing for the first time that they were told a week after she disappeared that she was dead in a note that the federal officials are saying they believe were real. Yeah. So I mean, look, we now know that the family had some sense, a small sense of closure and certainly not the news they were hoping for But you also understand the need to have her back with to be able to go through the process of burying her, of mourning her, of holding a service for her, and understanding what happened. Everyone wants to know what happened, why it happened, and who did it. So yes, there's a need for justice. There's a need for a lot of things, but it is fascinating to know that within a week of her abduction The Guthrie family knew that there was little to no chance of her coming back alive. And we all saw kind of the tone change. It was a tone change in the family. It was a tone change with the local officials out there who were giving out so much information initially and then just stopped. And they said, Nope, we're only going to be doing a press conference We feel we need to. There was an urgency that went away and Rose the Guthrie family had put out, I think at least one, maybe two messages on social media before They got this second note. againgain, we didn't know at the time But they got this second note that said that Nancy Guthrie was dead. And then on february seventh Savannah Guthher and her siblings went on and made this statement and wrote now, this makes a whole lot more sense. Yes, they said, we received your message and we understand We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay. I remember this one because it was such a shift And it sounded like, okay, they're communicating in some other language about something we don't know about that they clearly understand and are trying to offer a response to. So now knowing that the message was that Nancy Guthrie had died. This what Savannah said and what they were asking for makes so much more sense. And again so Rroke, we as we sit and we think about how impressed we were with Savannah Guthe in particular and her whole family and how they kept it together and how she's going back to work We are hearing now that all this was going on and a week after her mom disappeared. they might have had a little more understanding and roles Guess him resigned to the fact that she was dead already. Yeah. That early on in this whole process, while the rest of us, the rest of the world Hoping That she might still be alive. Yeah, that's wild to me that they knew within pretty much a week And we had a month and two months and we're at over four months now and we're just now finding out. I also think it's interesting. Look, and it makes total sense that the FBI and certainly the Guthrie family would have asked as well that these media and specifically the Tucson television station ask them to keep all of that information private. Think about that. an entire newsroom knew that the contents of that second Ransom note clearly stated that Nancy Guthe was dead and it never once got out And give them credit. I know media gets reputation. reporters just going after chasing a A leadee chasing a headline, you want to get a scoop. But Robes, we've been a part of organizations that have done this over the years. This is one that they do take very seriously and take it as a public duty and Rhodes, this is just being a good human. Yes. Absolutely. You don't want to do anything to undermine the investigation. And again, yes, I think that's very fair to say most people would not assume. I think maybe they'd think the worst of journalists, investigative journalists trying to get the scoop, trying to get the lead, trying to be the first to report something Look, I do think Almost the majority of journalists are good people who actually have a desire to inform and to help folks and to provide a service and not to undermine an investigation or to do anything that could bring harm to someone. And so with that in mind, obviously they kept it themsel So yeah, here we are. was it june twenty twenty third? Yeah. They've been sitting on this since the first of February. So good on them for doing that Let's go to the other thing, the other part of this story and the part that was making a lot of headlines yesterday is that Harvey Levin over at TMZ was reporting something very different He was talking about U, and almost knocking down some claims because For some reason, people are associating maybe what we're hearing about the notes from the Tucs TV stations to the notes that TMZ got. It sounds like robes to me before we get into this Tw totally different camps were sending notes to different media outlets. So which one's the real and which one's not? It sounds like from what let's see if you and I are on the same page because we haven't discussed this beforehand, but it sounded to me like the Feds and the police are all saying that the notes that were given to the Tucson television station were from the kidnappers. were from the abductors. But it appears that the notes that TMZ was receiving was from somebody associated with the kidnappers or who knew of the kidnapping. So it was someone with information who was close enough in this inner circle, if not a part of the kidnapping ring but was trying to get information as to her whereabouts to TMZ, but maybe wasn't in that inner circle, but had knowledge. Had knowledge didn't seem to be a participant road, but that drove us crazy throughout. This was the one that was asking for one hundred thousand in Bitcoin This was the one who claimed to know where Nancy Guthrie was to know where the kidnappers were And that was pretty I mean, I know everybody looks out for themselves and whatnot, but that's pretty crappy to know to have the information that can give relief to this family. That was Yes. So who knows. And that person who was writing kept saying that they were concerned that they would be arrested, that they would be charged with the kidnapping, that they would somehow be associated with the crime. And so because of that fear of that in addition to retribution from the kidnappers themselves He claimed, I say he, but this person who was writing claimed that they needed this money to go underground. to go into hiding because their life would be in peril if they gave this information. So Hary Levven over at TMZ is sentially saying authorities thought Those notes could have been authentic too even if it was not a kidnapper, they believe they were talking to somebody who did possibly have information. But he said wrote the notes that came to him started was saying that Guthrie was scared, but okay did not mention that she had died There was a first and a second note that use similar language robes that suggests two very different things. The first one saying time is of theence essence. That essentially suggests Theock is ticking. Maybe she's not doing well. We need to wrap this up. Yes. and that is in line with what you would expect for a kidnapping for ransom that yes, they'd want to get in and out. they don't want to keep an eighty four year old woman and they just want their money. So yes, there was a sense of urgency. Tim is of the essence. But in the second not, this is where Harvey Levin and this does jibe exactly with what We are hearing from the Feds with the kidnappers ransom notes, time is no longer of the essence. And Harvey Levin points out Why would time no longer be of the essence? That would only indicate one thing that Nancy Guthrie was no longer alive So there is no And if you're trying to get money, you don't want the person you're trying to get money from to think that There's nothing to pay for anymore So R, that kind of just commonsensically, I guess we could go on board with that, but we don't know for sure. but Ropees, that time is no longer of the essence. What I'm curious about though, just obviously I don't know and no one can get into the heads of the kidnappers. But if you're demanding money for someone to be returned alive, that person then dies. And the family who you wanted money from, who you know has money, because you know who they are If they're then offering money for just the whereabouts of the body, why would you not goo ahead and do that. Now you can just totally back away. I know there could be forensic evidence, etcer. But why not go ahead and give them that for the money. Who knows what's going on? A, we talked about this before, Robes, and you were pointing out, Tal pointed out. I mean, yeah, they might be under threat of some kind. They might Legitimately be fearful of their lives if they give this information up or if they're how close in proximity are they to the kidnappers, possibly. It's just it's a mystery that I guess some things got cleared up, but the mystery kind of grows grows here, Res because there was suspicion. I think someone did get arrested in Southern California for a hoax. there was a fake note yes. So But to sit here, Res and to think all those notes that were going around We're real? We're real Hold, I mean, Harvey said they got a dozen plus emails. That's right? Wild To think it's all roopes. given all the modern technology, all the investigative techniques and how they're able to track folks down, to think we have dozens of correspondents from legit people involved in this, and we can't find them. Can't figure out who they are, where they are.. And how many people are involved First of all, stay here folks, TMZ had more to offer in this case including an offer they made to pay The ransom. Why didn't they? Well, the FBI wasn't crazy about the idea stay One thing we've learned is that life doesn't always follow a schedule. Summer especially can be a little chaotic. Tvel, last minute plans, late night with friends. So we try to focus on the small things we can control. Yeah, summer is for letting things slide a little. That's the point. But there's one easy thing that takes thirty seconds and covers your bases no matter what the season throws at you One scoop plus eight ounces of water Every morning AG one AG one is a daily health drink with a multiitamin pre and probiotics, superfoods, and antioxidants. One scoop eight ounces of water. 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If you're always on the lookout for a great audio book or just want help figuring out what to listen to next, there's a podcast you should know about ER S the Audible and IHart Audioobook Club hosted by Cal Pen. Each episode takes a closer look at some of the most talked about new audio books on Audible, spanning a wide range of genres from sci fi and literary fiction to ROM coms, thrillers, and comedy. Cal is joined by guests who dig into what these stories are about what makes them stand out as audioobooks and why They're connecting with listeners right now. If you're looking for your next listen, this is a great place to start. Listen to ERSay, the Audible and IHart Audioobook Club on the IHart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Gyo presents a thirty second podcast between your podcast Today's story is shared by one of our listeners. It's called Betrayed by Bill It was in that moment I caught who was staring back at me in betrayal, or more like what? My insurance bill. And with trembling hands I grabbed my phone and switched to Geio, saving about nine hundred dollars in the process, and never to be betrayed again Now that was bloody riveting. It feels good when the story ends with savings. It feels good to Gaeiko intntroducing the all new Maazda CXB, featuring more connection. Hey Google, where's the nearest pilates class Safety that has your back More discovery on the sea couts. more passion in the details More control in changing weather. The all newew Mazda CX five. More to move every side of you. See it in five films at Mazdausa dot com slash five sides. Google is a trademark of Google LLC, seequences shortened and simulated