Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Released Claiming She Died of Heart Issues Shortly After Abduction
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has released the full contents of two ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. The notes were sent to news outlets in the days after she vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1, and authorities hope the distinctive language and phrasing might help someone recognize the writer.
Nancy was last seen after family dropped her off at her house. Blood found on the porch matched her DNA, and investigators recovered a mixed DNA sample inside the home. Surveillance footage released by the FBI shows a masked and armed man on her front porch in the middle of the night. A $100,000 FBI reward and a separate $1 million reward from the family remain in place for information that leads to her recovery or an arrest.
The first note, sent on February 2 and addressed to Savannah, claimed her mother was “safe but scared” and would be held for a maximum of seven days. It demanded $4 million in bitcoin by 5 p.m. on February 5. If that deadline passed, the amount would rise to $6 million, due by 5 p.m. on February 9.
The note stated that once payment was received she would be released within 12 hours to a safe drop-off location in Tucson. It warned that if the final deadline was missed she would be killed, adding that her life was in Savannah’s hands and there would be no negotiation. The writer also mentioned specific details about the house, including a white smartwatch on the floor at the foot of the bed and a destroyed floodlight in the backyard.
Four days later, on February 6, a second note arrived addressed to the Guthrie family. The tone shifted completely. “We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” it read. “We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”
Investigators released the notes just ahead of the six-month mark of the case. They said the writing shows unique patterns of word choice and style that a friend, relative, coworker or acquaintance might recognize. Changes in someone’s mood, appearance, unexplained injuries or an unusual interest in Nancy’s neighborhood could be important clues. Hair recovered from the home has not led to a suspect identification, and authorities have not ruled out that a single person carried out the abduction.
Savannah Guthrie posted an emotional Instagram video on July 27 speaking directly to those responsible. She asked them to do the right thing and help bring her mother home, saying it is never too late. The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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