Police in Arizona have released two ransom notes connected to the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, mother of prominent US news presenter Savannah Guthrie, six months after she disappeared from her home near Tucson. Officials released the notes on Friday, appealing to the public for assistance in identifying the writer, whose "distinct linguistic characteristics may be recognisable."
The Pima County Sheriff's Office stated that the investigation remains active and they have not been able to verify the death claimed in one of the notes. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie, who was 84 years old when she was last seen on January 31, was taken against her will. No possible motive has been shared, and no suspect has been arrested.
The ransom notes were addressed to Savannah Guthrie and the Guthrie family. They were sent to a local TV station in Tucson, Arizona, in the days following Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. The sheriff's office emphasized, "A friend, family member, coworker, classmate, or acquaintance may recognise these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible."
The first note, received on February 2, was treated as credible. It began: "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." The note escalated the demand, stating, "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." It promised release within 12 hours of payment to a safe drop-off location in Tucson but threatened, "If payment is not recieved [sic] by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed." The note also warned against involving law enforcement and negotiation, concluding with details about a "white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed."
Four days after the first communication, a second note arrived. This message claimed, "Guthrie Family, we did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. 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."
Nancy Guthrie, who required daily medication, vanished after relatives dropped her off at her home on the evening of Saturday, January 31. Police were alerted the following morning when she failed to appear at a friend's house to watch a virtual Sunday church service.
Savannah Guthrie, one of the most recognized TV presenters in the US, responded to the second note on Instagram on February 7, stating, "We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us… This is very valuable to us, and we will pay." Earlier this week, Guthrie released another video plea, urging the kidnappers to "do the right thing" and reveal her mother's location.
Authorities have previously released writings from criminal suspects to aid in identification, citing the case of Ted Kaczynski, known as the "Unabomber," who was identified by his brother after his manifesto was published. In the Nancy Guthrie case, earlier efforts included releasing images of a masked and armed suspect who covered a front door camera at her home before her disappearance. A glove discovered in her neighborhood, however, yielded no DNA evidence.
