Officials reveal details included in ransom notes tied to Nancy Guthrie

(AP) - Investigators say they are taking seriously a ransom note sent to a handful of media outlets connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

The note included a demand for money with a deadline set for Thursday evening and a second one for Monday if the first deadline wasn’t met, said Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix. The note also had details about a floodlight at Guthrie’s home and an Apple watch.

“To anyone who may be involved, do the right thing. This is an 84-year-old grandma,” Janke said.

At least three media organizations have reported receiving purported ransom notes, which they handed over to investigators.

Authorities made an arrest after a ransom note turned out to be fake, the sheriff said.

One note emailed Monday to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson included information that only the abductor would know, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.

“When we saw some of those details, it was clear after a couple of sentences that this might not be a hoax,” she said in an interview aired Wednesday.

Authorities say that any decision on ransom demands ultimately is up to the family.

Wednesday, Nancy Guthrie’s daughter, Savannah Guthrie, and her siblings released a message to her mother’s kidnapper, saying they are ready to talk but want proof their mom is still alive. However, there’s been no public sign of a response.

Authorities said they believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from the Tucson area home against her will over the weekend.

Thursday, investigators said they believe the missing mother of the “Today” show host is “still out there,” but they have not identified any suspects.