Pima County Sheriff’s Department Releases Ransom Notes Nearly Six Months After Abduction of Nancy Guthrie
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona released two ransom notes on Friday, nearly six months after the kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie from her home near Tucson in the early hours of Feb. 1. The first note, sent on Feb. 2 to news outlets and addressed to “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, demanded $4 million in Bitcoin by Feb. 5 for her mother’s release, warning that the amount would rise to $6 million by Feb. 9, at which point failure to pay would result in her death. Investigators noted that the initial communication contained authentic-looking details about the residence, including a broken backyard floodlight and a white smart watch on the bedroom floor, while doorbell camera footage captured an unidentified masked and armed man at the door.
Second Ransom Note Claims Captive Died Unexpectedly of Medical Condition
A second note sent to the Guthrie family on Feb. 6—ahead of the initial deadline—stated that the authors had not grasped the severity of Nancy Guthrie’s physical condition and never intended to harm her. This message claimed she died shortly after being taken due to a suspected heart-related issue and that she was buried in nature, assuring the family that nothing could have changed the outcome. While the initial message asserted that the elder Ms. Guthrie was “safe but scared,” the subsequent correspondence altered the narrative of her status, prompting the sheriff’s department to release the texts without confirming their authenticity in hopes of identifying the author’s linguistic patterns.
Investigators Look for Linguistic Clues and Physical Signs of Suspects
Authorities have urged the public to scrutinize the writer’s syntax, word choice, and phraseology, expressing belief that these characteristics will be recognizable to individuals who know or have interacted with the author. Beyond linguistic analysis, Tucson investigators asked the public to report any men exhibiting altered moods or appearances, unexplained injuries, or sudden departures from the region around the time of the abduction. The department stated that the release of the notes highlights the limited progress made in the investigation over the nearly six-month period since the disappearance.
Family Publicly Pleads for Proof of Life and Issues Increased Rewards
In the weeks following the kidnapping, Savannah Guthrie and her two older siblings released multiple online videos stating their willingness to pay for their mother’s return while demanding proof that the captors actually held her. Following the receipt of the second note, Ms. Guthrie issued a video on Feb. 7 pleading for her mother’s return so the family could celebrate together, eventually offering a $1 million reward later that month to supplement a $100,000 FBI tip offering. Earlier this week, Savannah Guthrie made another public appeal, begging those responsible for the abduction to do the right thing.
