Ex-FBI Official Casts Doubt on Third Letter in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance

Authorities continue investigation into the 84-year-old Tucson woman's suspected abduction

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A former FBI assistant director has expressed skepticism about a third letter received by TMZ that claims to have information about the suspected abductors of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home in early February. Chris Swecker told Fox News he believes the letter may be part of a scam, as previous information provided to TMZ has not panned out. Meanwhile, the FBI and local authorities are pursuing multiple persons of interest and have released surveillance footage of a masked individual approaching Guthrie's home.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has captivated national attention, with the FBI and local law enforcement working to uncover the truth behind her suspected abduction. The emergence of multiple alleged letters claiming to have information about her whereabouts has added complexity to the investigation, raising concerns about potential scams seeking to exploit the high-profile case.

The details

Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Fox News he is "highly skeptical" of the third letter received by TMZ, which claims the sender knows the identity of Guthrie's alleged abductor and is demanding one Bitcoin, worth around $56,000, in exchange for the information. Swecker suggested the letter may be an attempt by "bad actors" to "capitalize on the ongoing situation" and "tie up the investigative team trying to run this down." Meanwhile, authorities have taken one individual into custody for questioning, though no arrests have been made. FBI Director Kash Patel stated the agency is looking at multiple persons of interest as the investigation continues.

  • On Tuesday evening, authorities took one individual into custody for questioning in relation to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.
  • Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 1.

The players

Chris Swecker

A former FBI assistant director who expressed skepticism about the third letter received by TMZ related to the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.

Kash Patel

The FBI Director who stated the agency is looking at multiple persons of interest in the search for Nancy Guthrie.

Harvey Levin

The TMZ host who revealed his outlet received a third alleged letter related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

Carlos Palazuelos

A man who was detained for questioning by authorities but later released in relation to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home in early February.

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What they’re saying

“I just don't think anything TMZ has brought forward has panned out. I mean it's a good vehicle for people to come in and do this, TMZ gets some viewership and it sort of ties up the investigative team trying to run this down. But I sense a scam here.”

— Chris Swecker, Former FBI Assistant Director (Fox News)

“An hour and a half ago, we got, kind of a bizarre letter, an email from somebody who says they know who the kidnapper is and that they have tried reaching Savannah's sister Annie and Savannah's brother to no avail. And they said they want one Bitcoin sent to a Bitcoin address that we have confirmed is active. It's a real Bitcoin address, and as they put it, time is more than relevant. So we have no idea whether this is real or not. But they are making a demand.”

— Harvey Levin, TMZ Host (Fox News Channel)

“Without polluting the investigation, I will say we have made substantial progress in these last 36-48 hours, thanks to the technical capabilities of the FBI and our partnerships, and I do believe we are looking at people who, as we say, are persons of interest, but as you know with any investigation, you're a person of interest until you're either eliminated, or you're actually found to be the culprit or the culprits involved, and that's the stage we're at right now.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director (Hannity)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Carlos Palazuelos, the individual detained for questioning, to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in navigating potential scams and misinformation that can emerge during high-profile missing persons investigations. As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, authorities must carefully evaluate all leads and information to ensure the integrity of the investigation and the safety of the public.