Police in Arizona released two ransom notes tied to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of TV presenter Savannah Guthrie. The first demanded $4 million in Bitcoin (threatening $6 million if unpaid); the second claimed Nancy died after being taken — a claim the Pima County Sheriff’s Office cannot verify. Investigators hope the notes’ distinctive language will help identify the author, and Savannah Guthrie has publicly pleaded for information and urged the kidnappers to reveal her mother's location.
Savannah Guthrie Pleads for Help After Police Release Two Ransom Notes in Mother’s Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie (left) is the mother of Savannah Guthrie (right), one of the most recognisable TV presenters in the US [Getty Images]
Police in Arizona have published two ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of US television journalist Savannah Guthrie, and asked the public to help identify the author by their distinctive language and phrasing.
Ransom Notes and Claims
Officials say the first note, received on 2 February and treated as apparently credible, demanded $4 million in Bitcoin (threatening to raise the demand to $6 million) and warned that failure to pay could lead to Nancy Guthrie’s death. The note was addressed to Savannah Guthrie and the Guthrie family and was reportedly sent to a local Tucson television station in the days after Nancy vanished.
"Hello Savannah, we have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared... You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5PM on Thursday the 5th... If payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to 6 million USD... If payment is not recieved [sic] by the last deadline... she will be killed."
The message included details about items found at the scene, such as a white smartwatch and a damaged backyard floodlight.
Second Note and Investigation Status
Four days later a second note arrived claiming Nancy Guthrie "perished shortly after she was taken" and was "buried in nature now," adding that her death was likely heart-related. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said it cannot verify that claim and that the investigation remains active.
Timeline and Evidence
Nancy Guthrie, who was 84 when last seen on 31 January, disappeared after relatives dropped her off at her Tucson-area home. She failed to arrive at a friend's house the next morning for a virtual church service, prompting family members to alert police. Investigators previously released surveillance images of a masked, armed person who covered the front-door camera at the home before her disappearance. A glove found nearby produced no DNA match.
Family Response and Public Appeal
Savannah Guthrie has made repeated public pleas for information, posting emotional messages on Instagram and asking the kidnappers to "do the right thing" and reveal her mother's location. In a recent post she wrote, "We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair... Our hearts are in ruins." The family is offering a reward for information that leads to Nancy's recovery and the sheriff’s office encourages anyone with tips to come forward; anonymous tips are accepted.
Why Officials Hope the Notes Will Help
Authorities released the notes hoping acquaintances, friends, coworkers or family members might recognize distinctive turns of phrase, misspellings or other linguistic patterns that could identify the writer. Officials cited past cases — such as the Unabomber investigation — where published writings helped produce leads.
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