Fourth letter sent to TMZ about Nancy Guthrie disappearance - as media boss makes direct plea

A fourth note from someone claiming to have information about Nancy Guthrie has been sent to TMZ, the tabloid reports.

The note reportedly is demanding confidential payment for the information. Harvey Levin, TMZ's founder, addressed the sender in a video post on Monday and asked for verification that they are sincere.

“If you’re worried about getting this money, and you really do have this information, send it to us,” he said in the video. “We will forward it to the FBI, and that way there’s a record that we have that you supplied this information."

The sender reportedly is claiming to know the identity of Guthrie's alleged kidnapper.

“If they find her, and they find the kidnapper, then at least there is evidence because we have it, that you’re the one who provided the information,” Levin said. “So this is a way for you to get that money if this really is legitimate.”

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While describing the sender, Levin said the individual was essentially looking for a payday.

"A fourth letter from the same person who says he knows where Nancy Guthrie is, and he wants money in return for the information,” he said. “Essentially, he wants the reward."

During his address, Levin also read a chilling line from the letter.

”‘I know what I saw five days ago south of the border, and I was told to shut up, so I know who he is, and that was definitely Nancy with them,’” Levin read.

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Someone has sent TMZ three other notes, all of which claim to have knowledge of Guthrie's fate, and all angling to collect on the FBI's $100,000 reward for information. It's assumed by Levin that the letters were sent by the same person.

Guthrie, 84, was reported missing. by her family on February 1. Law enforcement agencies investigating the disappearance began reporting signs of foul play, like Guthrie’s blood on her front porch. Later they released camera footage of a masked suspect at Guthrie’s home.

The FBI called the person a suspect on Thursday. It described him as a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. The agency said he was carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.

One of Guthrie’s daughters is Savannah Guthrie, who is the co-anchor of NBC News’ Today. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made several videos pleading with the supposed kidnappers of proof that their mother is still alive and making offers to pay for her return.

Investigators searching near Guthrie's home have collected several gloves and has sent them to a forensics lab for testing, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Office. Deputies noted that many of the gloves found in the area were from volunteers who were searching for Guthrie. It's unclear what kind of gloves were sent for further analysis.

The FBI and the sheriff's office are also still collecting tips about the case. According to the FBI, it has collected mofe than 13,000 calls about Guthrie since February 1, and the sheriff's department said it has taken at least 18,000 calls.

Investigators have not said whether any of those calls have proven helpful to the search.

Guthrie has been missing for more than two weeks, resulting in some criticism of the investigation. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the Daily Mail on Sunday that he doesn't care about the "haters" who say the department released the crime scene too early.

"My officers were there for almost 20 hours, and they processed their scene, got it done, and brought in all the evidence," he told the outlet. "Then the FBI came and did their thing."

He also told the publication that claims he was blocking the FBI from accessing important evidence were wrong.

"Why would I do that?" he said. "It makes no sense."