The ransom notes, including one claiming Nancy Guthrie died, have been released in full by the police.
As we previously reported, media outlets received two notes from the alleged kidnapper shortly after Savannah Guthrie‘s mom disappeared almost six months ago. The first one requested money, while the second claimed Nancy had passed away. Now, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has shared the full contents on the notes first sent to KOLD with the public — all in the hopes that it may lead to a tip that’ll bring this nightmare for the Guthrie family to an end.
Related: Today Show Break-In Was ‘Incredibly Triggering’ For Savannah After Mother’s Abduction
The first note was sent on February 2, the day after everyone discovered Nancy was missing. It read:
“Hello Savannah, 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. We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days. You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5PM on Thursday the 5th. If payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to 6 million USD which will need to be paid by 5PM on Monday the 9th. Once payment is received to the bitcoin address below she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.”
Possibly to prove the legitimacy of the note, the alleged kidnapper added:
“She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed.”
Days later, a second note came in addressed to the Guthries on February 6. And this one alleged Nancy “perished” after suffering a “heart related” issue:
“Guthrie Family, 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. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”
Heartbreaking…
When Nancy went missing, the Guthrie family repeatedly stressed the importance of finding their mother as quickly as possible because she needed her daily medication. Without her meds, it could be fatal. Is that what happened here? The 84-year-old was also likely injured when she was snatched from her home. Regardless of what happened, and that we knew a lot of these details already, it’s devastating to see such confirmation of the note’s existence — and even worse to to read in full.
As for why the police are releasing the notes months later? Pima County Sheriff’s Department explained they hope someone will recognize the “unique linguistic style” of the writer:
“These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style. They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time. As with the unidentified male depicted in the video, we believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes’ writer. A friend, family member, coworker, classmate, or acquaintance may recognize these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible.”
The authorities continued:
“In some cases, there are times when people who may have knowledge initially do not come forward. This may be due to their close relationships with those who might be involved as well as a concern for their own safety, reputation, or standing in the community and amongst their friends. We recognize relationships and loyalties change over time as do people and their perspectives. It is not too late to come forward. Regardless of how insignificant you think your information may be, or whether you think we are already aware of it, please contact us. If you have any information, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or 88-CRIME (you can remain anonymous). There is a reward available for your information.”
Let’s hope releasing the notes will lead to answers after all this time. See them (below):
Note 2 is below. 3/3 pic.twitter.com/T7hAro0ebR
— Pima County Sheriff’s Department (@PimaSheriff) July 31, 2026
[Image via Savannah Guthrie/Instagram, MEGA/WENN]
