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Published 15:53 22 Jun 2026 GMT
One of the ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie's family reportedly included a harrowing apology.
The blackmail letter, sent on February 6, allegedly offered to return the 84-year-old's body in exchange for money, a source familiar with the investigation told Air Mail.
The message followed an earlier ransom note from the same sender that included details investigators believed only someone involved in the abduction would know.
The email reportedly correctly described what Today host Savannah Guthrie's mom was wearing on the night she disappeared and referenced a damaged floodlight in her backyard.
Guthrie was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home in the early hours of February 1.
Per reports, the first messages from the sender claimed that the 84-year-old was "safe but scared" and would be returned if the family paid $4 million in Bitcoin by 5PM on February 5.
The sender allegedly warned that if the money was not paid by February 9, the demand would rise to $6 million, "or else".
Investigators reportedly determined that the later "apology" note came from the same IP address as the earlier emails, leading to concerns that the messages were genuine.
That note claimed Guthrie had been "accidentally killed" and offered to return her body to the family for $4 million.
The day after the note arrived, Savannah shared a heartwrenching clip on Instagram alongside her brother, Camron, and sister, Annie.
"We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her," the TV host pleaded. "This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
Savannah has since said she believes the ransom notes were real.
Federal authorities are now reportedly re-examining the ransom communications as they continue scouring for clues that could identify the person responsible for Guthrie's disappearance.
Air Mail reported that investigators believe the letters suggest the sender is articulate and possesses a good understanding of cryptocurrency.
Authorities reportedly also view the apology itself as important. The wording has led some investigators to believe the suspect may not be the cartel figure they initially feared, but rather a local opportunist.
Investigators are also examining whether the abductor may have had help. A masked man was reportedly seen trying to remove Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera on the night she disappeared.
However, federal investigators told the outlet that the clumsy effort to remove or hide the camera does not appear consistent with their profile of the more calculated suspect who wrote the ransom letters.
No suspects have been publicly identified.
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Published 15:58 11 Feb 2026 GMT
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Published 17:01 09 Feb 2026 GMT
A small detail in a ransom note claiming to be from Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers could reveal a key detail about the criminals.
As previously reported, the 84-year-old, who is the mother of TV news anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1.
Nancy had vanished from her $1 million home in Tucson, Arizona, last weekend after being dropped off by her daughter and son-in-law, with the alarm being raised after she failed to arrive at church as expected.
A trail of blood was found outside her home, and the doorbell camera outside had also been removed in the early hours.
Her children - Savannah, Camron, and Annie - have since begged the captors to return their mother, who is without vital medication she needs daily.
Several ransom notes have surfaced since the disappearance, including one which police are taking seriously.
The alleged captors are demanding $6 million in bitcoin by 5PM on Monday, with a threat also being made to Nancy's life.
However, according to new reports, one small detail within the ransom note could suggest that the kidnappers are not in the US.
Reporter JJ McKinney, whose Arizona outlet KGUN9 was one of three to receive the ransom note, said per the New York Post: "Multiple ransom notes have been sent out to the media, including one that was sent to us.
"In the letter, the potential kidnappers demanded that the Guthries pay them $6 million before this Monday."
The purported kidnappers did not provide any proof of life or that they have Nancy, but included details from inside her house, which has prompted law enforcement to treat the demands as if they are real.
Nancy's children shared a video message to say: "We received your message, and we understand.
"We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
However, some experts have cast doubt on the ransom note, which specified that the ransom be paid in the equivalent of US dollars - which they believe could indicate that the person making the demand is not in the US, which could potentially mean it is a scam to obtain millions of dollars from the Guthries.
Former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told The New York Post: "If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put 6 million.
"Why would you use that if you’re a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country."
He added that that tiny detail "lends the potential for this being a scam."
No further communication has emerged from the supposed kidnappers as the deadline mentioned in their message draws closer.
Police have maintained a presence at Nancy's home and were seen searching a septic tank behind the property before leaving empty handed.
A new ransom note has been received in the case of Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom Nancy, with another very specific demand.
The note, which has now been passed to the FBI, made a sinister statement at the end that will certainly focus the bureau’s attention.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since February 1, when she failed to show up at a friend’s house to watch a church service.
In the intervening time, ransom notes have been received containing details of a price to be paid and deadlines that have since passed.
Police have searched the area around the house, and recently released images and video that show a masked and armed suspect attempting to tamper with the doorbell camera at the property belonging to Guthrie.
A man was also arrested and questioned before being released, and so far it seems as if law enforcement are not close to apprehending any credible suspect.
Now, according to TMZ, another note has been received, with another demand that could see Guthrie returned, but a sinister threat at the end.
This time, the note contains a link to a different bitcoin wallet - the previous one demanded $6,000,000 - and a much simpler demand, which would result in the identity of the kidnappers being revealed.
It is not clear how credible this note is, but TMZ claim it has since been passed to the FBI, who will be taking it seriously.
Received at 5:00AM PST on February 11, the sender of the note - according to the reports - attempted to contact the Guthrie family, Savannah, her brother Camron, and sister Annie by email and text before sending the note to the news agency.
The note allegedly says: "If they want the name of the individual involved then I want 1 Bitcoin to the following wallet.”
It ends with the disturbing comment: “Time is more than relevant."
TMZ claims to have verified the bitcoin account as genuine, and that it is a different account to the first note received by the publication and other news stations.
The FBI is currently offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to those who allegedly took Nancy Guthrie, whereas one bitcoin is currently worth around $66,000.
Yet another note has been received in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, this time with some ‘ominous’ statements.
This time, the send - who claims to know the identity of the kidnapper, says that they fear they are ‘not being taken seriously’.
84-year-old Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for 12 days now since she did not turn up at a friend’s house to watch a church service.
In that time, police have investigated a number of leads, including areas around her house, found several clues, and released chilling footage of a masked suspect who was also allegedly armed.
There have also been several ransom notes demanding payment, complete with deadlines that have since been missed, and another from someone claiming to have information that could help identify the kidnapper.
The FBI have put up a big reward for information leading to Guthrie’s safe return or the arrest of the kidnappers, but that clearly isn’t enough for the person who keeps sending these notes.
TMZ announced that another note had been received earlier today (February 12) and this time claimed that the note was purportedly from the same person as one recently received, who now fears they are ‘not being taken seriously’.
There were a number of other ‘ominous’ statements in the note, which has been passed on to investigators for examination.
The recent note also demanded one bitcoin for information about the identity of the kidnapper.
Earlier today, a white tent was seen outside Guthrie’s Arizona house, although it is not clear what the purpose of the tent is.
The note also noted that the sender was concerned about being ‘incriminated like that Carlos guy’ - a reference to a man who was arrested and subsequently released without charge.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department has maintained that no press conferences will be held until there is significant information to announce, and so far, no conference has been called.
Addressing the footage, FBI director Kash Patel said: “Working with our partners - as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door the morning of her disappearance.”
Law enforcement is asking members of the public to send in any footage showing anything they ‘deem out of then ordinary’ between January 1 and February 2.
Published 20:27 05 Feb 2026 GMT
Police have revealed a strict deadline was included in an alleged ransom note for Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of TODAY host Savannah Guthrie.
The note included several demands and included details about the alleged kidnapping that seem to have cops convinced.
84-year-old Guthrie was reportedly abducted from her Arizona home on Saturday night, and is allegedly ‘limited in mobility’ but of ‘great sound mind’.
Earlier this week, police received a ransom note that was sent to news outlets earlier in the week with demands including millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
While the legitimacy of the note has yet to be confirmed, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters on Monday that he believes Guthrie was abducted.
So far - FBI special agent Heith Janke confirmed - the family have received no ‘proof of life’ and there has been ‘no contact’ with the alleged kidnappers, although some chilling details have emerged and the family has pleaded for her safe return.
Donald Trump has also spoken to Savannah Guthrie and has pledged support in getting her mother home safely.
Police have also said that they believe Nancy is still alive.
As well as the demand for financial payment, the note includes deadlines that must be met in order for her safe return.
The letter, which included significant details about the location of Guthrie 120 hours ago, including details about her Apple Watch and a floodlight at her home in Tucson, said that the deadline was 5:00pm MT on Thursday.
There is also a second deadline in the note, and it is not clear what the warning was if the deadline was missed.
"If a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday,” Janke said at a press conference.
“I’m not going to go beyond that.”
Janke said: “We are continuing as a normal kidnapping case,
“In a normal kidnapping case there would be contact by now trying to discuss that.”
However, the note did not include contact details.
Authorities are obviously taking the note seriously, though there is an ‘absolute possibility’ that the note and Guthrie’s disappearance are unrelated, Sheriff Nanos said.
In a video statement on Wednesday night, Savannah said: “We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen,
“Please, reach out to us.”
Published 10:20 04 Feb 2026 GMT
Officials are looking into the alleged ransom notes in the disappearance of news anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother.
As previously reported, the 54-year-old co-host of NBC's Today show is searching for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has gone missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 31.
On February 3, TMZ reported receiving a ransom note demanding a substantial amount of Bitcoin for Nancy's release.
The note, which specified a multimillion-dollar sum, was also tied to a particular Bitcoin address.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that the FBI had reviewed the message and shared it with Savannah, who has since been informed of the contents.
“It's like any piece of evidence,” he stated, cited by BBC News. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
As the investigation continues, Nanos emphasized that investigators are treating every tip with urgency.
The sheriff's department has not yet confirmed whether the ransom note is authentic.
Nancy was last seen around 9:30PM on January 31 after being dropped off at her home by family members.
The following morning, her family became concerned when she failed to attend church services, prompting them to contact authorities.
Investigators quickly turned their attention to what appeared to be a crime scene at the 84-year-old's home, with initial signs suggesting she did not leave voluntarily.
“We believe now, after we processed that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime scene that we do, in fact, have a crime,” he said, noting that Nancy suffers from mobility issues, making it unlikely that she could have walked away from her home on her own.
Authorities also found blood at the scene, which is currently being tested, though the sheriff has not confirmed whether it was seen inside or outside the home.
The investigation has taken on even more urgency due to Nancy’s medical condition, as she requires medication that could become life-threatening if not taken in time.
“We do believe that Nancy was taken from her home against her will. And that's where we’re at," Nanos added.
The news anchor took to Instagram on February 2 to express her thanks for the outpouring of prayers.
"We believe in prayer. we believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. we believe in goodness. we believe in humanity. above all, we believe in Him," she penned.
"Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment."
"We need you," she continued. “He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us. Bring her home."
In the midst of the search, she has been absent from her usual duties at the Today show as she stays in Arizona with her family.
NBC has confirmed that she will not be participating in the network's Winter Olympics coverage to focus on supporting her family.
“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time,” the statement said. “Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother. We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”
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