The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has released two ransom notes regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television anchor Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie was last seen in January, and these documents represent a new attempt by investigators to identify the person responsible for her abduction.
The first note was sent to a local news station in February and demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin. It contained specific details about the scene of the disappearance, including a broken floodlight and a misplaced smart watch. The note threatened the life of the 84-year-old if payment demands were not met by the specified deadlines.
A second note arrived shortly after the first. In this message, the author claimed that Nancy Guthrie died shortly after she was taken, stating the cause of death was heart-related. The writer claimed to have buried her in nature and expressed an intent that the family find peace, though authorities have not verified the authenticity of these claims.
Law enforcement officials are now asking the public to look closely at the language used in these notes. They believe that the word choice, syntax, and phrasing are unique enough to be recognized by someone who knows the individual who wrote them. Investigators are looking for friends, coworkers, or acquaintances who might identify these patterns.
This investigation has faced significant challenges over the last six months. In addition to the search for the kidnapper, the department is managing legal pushback from individuals previously detained in the case. One man has already pleaded guilty to sending a separate, fake ransom note, and another individual is currently pursuing a lawsuit against the sheriff's department for false arrest.