TUCSON, Ariz. — Investigators believe two ransom notes sent to the family of Nancy Guthrie shortly after her abduction in February were likely written by her abductor or abductors, with one claiming the 84-year-old had died, law enforcement sources said.
Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home in Catalina Foothills, a Tucson suburb, in the early hours of Feb. 1. Security footage showed a masked, armed individual at the residence, and authorities found blood and signs of a struggle inside.
The first note, sent the day after her disappearance, demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin for her release. A second note, received days later and addressed to the family, stated that Guthrie had died shortly after the abduction. It indicated her death was unintentional and that she was buried “with nature,” according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Pima County Sheriff’s officials and the FBI have treated the case as an abduction. The notes were sent to media outlets and the family. Investigators have described them as containing details that lend them credibility, though verification remains ongoing.
No proof of life has been provided since the disappearance, and Guthrie’s body has not been recovered. A substantial reward, including $1.2 million from the family combined with FBI contributions, remains for information leading to her location or the arrest of those responsible.
Savannah Guthrie appeared on the “Today” show on Tuesday, pleading for public assistance. “Somebody knows something. We are in agony,” she said, according to reports of her emotional appeal.
The FBI and local authorities have pursued thousands of leads but have not identified any suspects. Details on the exact bitcoin amounts demanded or additional contents of the notes were not publicly specified beyond law enforcement briefings.
As of Wednesday, the investigation remains active with no new public updates on the notes’ sender or Guthrie’s whereabouts. Officials continue to urge anyone with information to contact the FBI or Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
