Investigators are reviewing a newly reported ransom note in the disappearance of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, whose case remains unsolved nearly eight months after she vanished from her Tucson home. Authorities previously recovered DNA evidence, released doorbell images of a masked male suspect, and received two earlier ransom communications — one demanding Bitcoin and a second claiming Guthrie had died. The Pima County Sheriff's Department and an FBI task force are assessing the new note's credibility while monitoring social media leads. A combined reward of more than $1.2 million has been offered for information leading to her recovery.
New Ransom Note Under Scrutiny In Unsolved Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
Savannah Guthrie, right, and mother Nancy Guthrie are pictured in an undated photograph.
Law enforcement officials say they are reviewing the credibility of a newly reported ransom note in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, nearly eight months after she vanished from her Tucson home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department and an FBI-led "Guthrie task force" told USA TODAY on Sept. 28 that investigators were recently made aware of a possible new ransom communication and are also monitoring social media commentary about the note as they assess its authenticity.
Investigators previously recovered DNA evidence, released still images from home surveillance and received two earlier ransom communications — one demanding payment in Bitcoin and a second claiming Guthrie had died. Public updates from local and federal agencies have been intermittent as authorities continue forensic analysis and follow leads.
What Officials Have Said
The sheriff's office said it and the FBI are "looking further into this and working to determine credibility." USA TODAY has contacted the FBI for comment; TheWrap first reported the new development.
Evidence And Earlier Communications
Authorities have collected DNA from the Guthrie property and recovered a pair of gloves about two miles from the home that appear to match gloves worn by the subject in surveillance footage; DNA on those gloves did not produce a match in the FBI's national DNA database. Doorbell camera images released by the FBI show an armed, masked individual who appears to tamper with the camera the morning of her disappearance. The suspect has been described as a male about 5'9"–5'10" with an average build and wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
Earlier Ransom Communications: A Feb. 2 note demanded Bitcoin — $4 million if paid by Feb. 5 or $6 million by Feb. 9 — and warned of lethal consequences if the final deadline passed. A Feb. 6 note later claimed Guthrie had died and been buried "in nature now," apologizing and suggesting her death was likely heart‑related.
Timeline (Key Events)
Jan. 31, 2026: Nancy Guthrie was last seen entering her garage late that evening after being dropped off from a family dinner.
Feb. 1, 2026: Family reports her missing around noon after she fails to attend a morning church service.
Feb. 2–6, 2026: Authorities declare the home a crime scene, media outlets receive ransom communications, blood at the residence is confirmed to match Guthrie's DNA, and FBI releases doorbell footage of a masked suspect.
Feb. 12–17, 2026: FBI provides suspect description; gloves recovered two miles away contain DNA that did not match the national database; investigators collect additional evidence from the property.
Apr.–July 2026: Family appeals publicly; FBI and local investigators continue analysis. Human remains found in a desert area in Aug. were later ruled unconnected to the case.
Sept. 28, 2026: Authorities confirm they are reviewing a newly reported ransom note and monitoring related social media posts as they evaluate the note's credibility.
Community Response And Rewards
Neighbors and supporters have maintained a memorial of flowers and yellow ribbons near Guthrie's home. A combined reward exceeding $1.2 million — including a $1 million family reward, $100,000 from the FBI and $102,500 from Tucson's 88‑CRIME program — remains available for information leading to her recovery.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI tipline at 1‑800‑CALL‑FBI or tips.fbi.gov, the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520‑351‑4900, or Tucson's 88‑CRIME program.
January 31, 2026“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappears from her Tucson, Arizona home. She was last seen entering her garage at 9:48 p.m. Jan. 31, after being dropped off by daughter Annie Guthrie's husband following family dinner at their house nearby.(Provided by NBC)
February 1, 2026Nancy Guthrie's family reports her missing around noon Feb. 1 after she failed to attend a church service that morning.(Pima County Sheriff’s Office, via REUTERS)
February 2, 2026Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reveals at a Feb. 2 news conference that Guthrie's home is a crime scene and says authorities have reason to believe she did not leave on her own. That day, That same day, local news outletKOLD News 13receives a ransom note that "contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing" the night she disappeared.(Patrick Breen, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 3, 2026Reporters for The Arizona Republic – part of the USA TODAY Network – visit Guthrie's home on Feb. 3, where they see dried blood droplets on the Spanish tile entrance. Officials later confirm the blood matches Guthrie's DNA.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
February 4, 2026Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie, addresses their mother's potential abductor directly, referencing the unverified ransom notes sent to both TMZ and CBS affiliate KOLD News: "As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 4, 2026About 400 people gather at a vigil for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, Arizona. Each person places a prayer candle on the altar during the ceremony.(Diannie Chavez, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 5, 2026The first of two deadlines given in the alleged ransom letter passes as Camron Guthrie speaks to the person who might be "holding our mother" in a video posted to Savannah Guthrie's Instagram. He says, "We want to hear from you."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram)
February 6, 2026Law enforcement tows Guthrie's blue SUV, and broadcast video shows investigators placing evidence markers on the roof of her home. Authorities also confirm the receipt of a second ransom note, which NBC News, ABC News and CBS News later reported said Nancy Guthrie was dead.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
February 7, 2026Savannah Guthrie and her siblings post another video telling the individual behind the ransom notes, "We received your message and we understand." They say they are willing to pay for the release of their mother.(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 8, 2026Authorities search Guthrie's yard and look under what appears to be a manhole cover into a drainage or septic system located behind the home, according to reports. As the media presence grows in the neighborhood, the Pima County Sheriff's Department reminds the public and press not to trespass on private property.(Rebecca Noble, Getty Images)
February 9, 2026Savannah Guthrie speaks in a video message as she enters "another week of this nightmare." She says she believes Nancy Guthrie "is still out there" and pleads to anyone who knows information to reach out to law enforcement.(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 10, 2026The FBI releases images from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell footage showing an armed, masked individual appearing tamper with the camera on the morning of her disappearance.(Provided by the FBI)
February 11, 2026The Catalina Foothills Association Board in Guthrie's neighborhood encourages residents to leave bouquets of yellow roses and yellow ribbons to a memorial in front of Guthrie's home. The gesture is meant to create a "visible show of solidarity on the street and a traditional sign of hope for her safe return."(Patrick Breen, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 12, 2026The FBI releases new details about the kidnapping suspect, who is described as a male, approximately 5-foot-9 inches to 5-foot-10 inches tall, with an average build. In the doorbell camera footage, the FBI says the suspect was wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.(Provided by the FBI)
February 13, 2026FBI agents search and tow a vehicle located close to a neighborhood that was sealed off earlier in the evening on Feb. 13, as the Pima County Sheriff's Department says authorities collected evidence from Nancy Guthrie's property that did not belong to her or anyone in close contact with her.(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 14, 2026Early-morning searches near the Guthrie home do not result in any arrests, and authorities have doubled their reward to $100,000 for information leading to her discovery or an arrest and conviction of anyone involved.(Joe Rondone,The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 15, 2026Savannah Guthrie shares a Feb. 15 video message stating, "We still have hope and we still believe" in their mother's return. The FBI reveals that same day that gloves that "appear to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video" were found two miles away from Guthrie's home "in a field near the side of the road."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 16, 2026Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirms that all members of the Guthrie family, including siblings and spouses, have been cleared as possible suspects. The department also refutes reports that Nancy Guthrie was taken in "a burglary gone wrong."(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 17, 2026The Pima County Sheriff's Department reveals DNA on the gloves recovered near Nancy Guthrie's home did not result in a match in the FBI's national DNA database. Officials state their focus is on locating Guthrie's pacemaker, identifying the suspect in the doorbell footage and trying to get to the bottom of the DNA evidence found at and near the scene.(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 18, 2026Tributes to Guthrie continue in front of her home as Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos tells NBC News that DNA found at the property "may" belong to the suspect, but "we won't know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out."(Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
April 6, 2026Savannah Guthrie appears on the “Today” show after being absent for more than two months following her mother's disappearance."Well, here we go. Ready or not, let's do the news," Guthrie said."It's really hard to come back. I've been trying so hard to hold it together," Guthrielater told her colleague, Jenna Bush Hager. "I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home."(TODAY/NBC)
May 5, 2026After three months with no suspect in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel sayscriticized the Pima County Sheriff's Departmentfor its handling of the case.On theMay 5 episodeof Sean Hannity's podcast, Patel agreed with the Fox News personality's assertion that local authorities attempted "to keep [the FBI] out" early in the case. "The first 48 hours of anyone's disappearance are the most critical," he added.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
June 22, 2026Multiple outlets reportedon June 22 that the second message sent to KOLD said Nancy Guthrie died after being kidnapped.NBC NewsandABC Newscited unnamed people "familiar with" the case, whileCBS Newsreferred to "sources who reviewed the notes."CBS reported investigators familiar with the case had reason to believe both notes came from the same person or people.(Provided by NBC Universal)
July 27, 2026Savannah Guthrie renewed her appeal for information – and closure – in a July 27 Instagram video."Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end; nothing about our situation has changed," she said in the minute-long video. "We will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts."(@savannahguthrie via Instagram)
July 31, 2026The Pima County Sheriff's Department shared the two communications sent toTucson's KOLD-TV 13after the 84-year-old disappeared on Feb. 1.The first, sent Feb. 2,demanded ransomin exchange for her safe return. The second, sent Feb. 6, claimed she had died."These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style," the sheriff's department said in a statement. "They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time."(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
July 31, 2026In the second note, the purported kidnapper claims that 84-year-old is dead and buried and apologizes to the Guthrie family."We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. 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," the Feb. 6 note claimed. "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."(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix, volunteers his time to search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 5, four days after she disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the affluent Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson, Arizona, in a suspected kidnapping for ransom.(Sarah Lapidus/The Republic)
The Pima County Sheriff's Department labeled Guthrie's property "a crime scene" after finding evidence she did not leave on her own.(Sarah Lapidus/The Republic)
Guthrie was last seen entering her home in the evening of Jan. 31 after her son-in-law dropped her off from family dinner nearby.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Media outlets and private security gather outside Guthrie's home on Feb. 4 as officials search the property for clues in her disappearance.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
A Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy patrols Guthrie's property on Feb. 10 after authorities appear to search a manhole in the backyard.(Rebecca Noble/Reuters)
Investigators block off entry to Guthrie's property after reporters on the scene witness blood on her front steps on Feb. 4.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Neighbors start a memorial on the curb in front of Guthrie's home on Feb. 3, encouraging people to leave yellow ribbons as a symbol of her safe return.(Jan Sonnenmair, Getty Images)
Private detective Chris Castorena volunteers to scan Guthrie's street for clues on Feb. 5.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Nancy Guthrie's neighbors continue to leave flowers, yellow ribbons and other items at the memorial in front of her Tucson, Arizona home.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
New images show a close up of the unidentified individual at Nancy Guthrie's front door the day she disappeared.(FBI)
The masked individual at Guthrie's front door is described by police as a male about "5'9" - 5'10" tall, with an average build."(FBI)
Authorities seek help identifying the masked individual at Guthrie's front door the day she went missing.(FBI)
Live-streamers, journalists and a Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy gather at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Investigators showed renewed interest at the home of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 4, 2026, stringing up crime scene tape for a time in the late afternoon. They removed it shortly before 6 p.m. Guthrie had been missing since Jan. 31, 2026, with investigators saying she had been taken from her home northeast of Tucson. Guthrie is the mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Reporters station outside Guthrie's home as investigators reveal images of a potential suspect tampering with her front doorbell camera.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
The Pima County Sheriff's Department releases a photo of Nancy Guthrie as her family offers a $1 million reward for any information leading to her recovery, which is in addition to a $100,000 reward offered by the FBI and a $102,500 reward from Tucson's 88-CRIME program.(Provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department)
The missing persons flyer describes Nancy Guthrie as 5'5" and about 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Authorities say she has limited mobility and relies on medications for her health.(Provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 2, one day after she was reported missing.(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Reporters gather on the street of Nancy Guthrie's home, where she was last seen on Jan. 31.(Jan Sonnenmair, Getty Images)
NBC releases another photo of Nancy Guthrie as authorities continue to search for her amid her disappearance(Provided by NBC)
Nancy Guthrie appears on "Today with Hoda & Jenna" with her daughter, anchor Savannah Guthrie, on April 17, 2019.(Provided by NBC)
Savannah Guthrie returns to the "Today" showon Monday, April 6 for the first time since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing on Feb. 1.Savannah Guthrie has been a main co‑anchor of NBC’s "Today" show since 2012.(Art Streiber, NBCUniversal)
Before she joined "Today," Guthrie was a Court TV correspondent. Here, she attends Lucky Magazine's VIP preview to benefit the Robin Hood Foundation at Gotham Hall on Nov. 18, 2004, in New York City.(Fernando Leon, Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie attends NBC's "Today" at Rockefeller Plaza on Nov. 20, 2012, in New York City.(Slaven Vlasic, Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie speaks with Jon Bon Jovi at the SiriusXM studios on Feb. 4, 2013, in New York City.(Stephen Lovekin)
Katie Couric and Savannah Guthrie attend the Yahoo News/ABC News White House Correspondents' dinner reception pre-party at Washington Hilton on May 3, 2014, in Washington, D.C.(Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images for Yahoo News)
Former first lady Laura Bush and journalist Savannah Guthrie speak on stage at Mother/Daughter Dynasty: Two Generations of the Bush Family during Tina Brown's 7th annual Women in the World Summit at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on April 7, 2016, in New York City.(Jemal Countess, Getty Images)
Hosts Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie talk with singer Celine Dion on NBC's "Today" show at Rockefeller Plaza on July 22, 2016, in New York City.(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images)
Jack Sock, Kevin Anderson, broadcaster Savannah Guthrie, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic pose prior to their men's doubles match on day one of the 2018 Laver Cup at the United Center on Sept. 21, 2018, in Chicago.(Clive Brunskill, Getty Images for The Laver Cup)
Hoda Kotb, Savannah Guthrie and former first lady Michelle Obama on stage during NBC's "Today" celebration of the International Day of the Girl at Rockefeller Plaza on Oct. 11, 2018, in New York City.(Roy Rochlin, Getty Images)
President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during an NBC News town hall event moderated by Savannah Guthrie at the Perez Art Museum in Miami on Oct. 15, 2020.(BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AFP via Getty Images)
From left: Jessica Capshaw, Savannah Guthrie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Griffin and Gucci Westman attend A Dreamy Evening with Goopglow on July 18, 2022, in East Hampton, N.Y.(Bryan Bedder, Getty Images for Goop)
"Today" show cohosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on Jan. 4, 2023, in New York City.(Michael M. Santiago, Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie and her husband Michael Feldman attend the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 12, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California.(Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Savannah Guthrie speaks with Scarlett Johansson on “Today,” Nov. 13, 2023(Nathan Congleton, NBC)
Hoda Kotb, left, and Savannah Guthrie attend their panel discussion, Reflections on Faith, at 92NY on Feb. 22, 2024, in New York City.(Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin on "Today," Jan. 22, 2025.(Nathan Congleton, NBC)
From left: Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie, Al Roker, Willie Geist, Laura Jarrett and Dylan Dreyer attend "SNL50: The Homecoming Concert" at Radio City Music Hall on Feb. 14, 2025, in New York City.(Dia Dipasupil, Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie and Millie Bobby Brown on “Today,” March 11, 2025.(Nathan Congleton, NBC)
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