The 'fingerprint' in Nancy Guthrie's ransom notes

Retired FBI agent Jason Pack said ransom communications have a "fingerprint"—the word choice, tone and how a demand is structured. He noted the first two alleged ransom notes read like the same person wrote them, while later messages had a different tone. The first note included operational details that were not public, such as what Nancy Guthrie was wearing and a damaged floodlight, suggesting someone had been at the scene.

Early in the probe, a note demanded $4 million in Bitcoin with a Feb. 5 deadline. Investigators did not pay the full sum; instead they sent $152 to the address to try to trace any cash-outs, and that balance has not been cashed out. Days later, an alleged note from the same IP address arrived on Feb.

6 with a sputtering, labored tone; it apologized for Nancy’s death and requested payment in exchange for returning her body. Some reports said the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI allegedly missed a chance to find Nancy in early February.

United States, Pima County

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