The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI Phoenix Field Office have released two ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie’s family during her disappearance case. The release aims to seek public assistance in identifying the writer of the notes.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the notes exhibit distinctive patterns in word choice, syntax, and phraseology that may reflect the writer's unique linguistic style. They believe that someone who knows the writer may recognize these characteristics and provide information that could help identify the individual responsible.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on February 1, and authorities suspect she was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona. As of now, it remains unclear whether she is deceased.
The first note, sent to local CBS Tucson affiliate KOLD-TV on February 2, demanded that Savannah Guthrie, cohost of the Today show, pay a ransom in bitcoin for her mother’s release. The note stated, "We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed. If payment is not received by the last deadline on [February 9 at 5 p.m.], she will be killed."
The second note, sent on February 6, addressed the entire Guthrie family and included a message regarding Nancy's condition. It read, "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."
Guthrie’s death has not been confirmed, as no evidence of her captivity or death has been provided by the alleged abductors. At the time of her disappearance, she was in fragile health due to a heart condition requiring a pacemaker and daily medication.
Savannah Guthrie posted a video on social media this week, pleading with the abductors to share her mother’s location, stating, "I’m asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now. Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her."
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work on the case in coordination with the FBI and encourages the public to provide any information related to the ransom notes, emphasizing that even seemingly insignificant information could be valuable.