Retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer says she received four purported ransom emails linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

Coffindaffer told Newsweek that the messages arrived about two months after Guthrie disappeared in Tucson, Arizona. The emails allegedly demanded bitcoin in exchange for Guthrie’s release and included an AI-generated image of her.

Coffindaffer said she did not respond to the senders and instead forwarded the messages to the FBI.

“I never responded to any of them,” Coffindaffer said. “I went straight to the FBI with them.”

She also said she believed the emails were likely sent by scammers rather than people directly connected to Guthrie’s disappearance.

The development adds another layer to the investigation as authorities assess information and purported ransom communications surrounding the case. A separate report referenced in coverage of the investigation said another ransom note had previously been determined not to be credible.

Guthrie remained missing at the time of the latest report.

The case has drawn heightened attention because of her relationship to Savannah Guthrie, one of the most prominent anchors on NBC’s “Today.” Coffindaffer’s account also highlights a growing challenge in high-profile investigations, where digital manipulation and AI-generated material can make it more difficult to assess the credibility of communications claiming to come from kidnappers.

There is currently no indication that the four emails received by Coffindaffer were authenticated as genuine ransom communications or directly linked to those responsible for Guthrie’s disappearance.

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