Police release Nancy Guthrie ransom notes in bid to find kidnappers

Authorities in Arizona have publicly released two ransom notes in connection with the ongoing disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI disclosed the notes on Friday, July 31, 2026, six months after Guthrie went missing from her Tucson home on February 1. Investigators are appealing to the public, hoping that someone might recognize the unique writing style, word choices, syntax, or phrasing used in the communications to help identify the writer and generate new leads in the cold case.

The first note, sent to a local television station on February 2, 2026, demanded a $4 million Bitcoin payment for Nancy Guthrie's safe return and contained specific details about her home, which lent credibility to the message. A second note, received four days later on February 6, claimed that Nancy Guthrie had "perished shortly after she was taken," possibly due to a pre-existing heart condition, and was "buried in nature now," expressing regret that her death was unintentional.

Despite an extensive investigation by local and federal authorities, including the release of surveillance footage showing a masked individual near Guthrie's residence, no suspects have been identified or arrested in the alleged kidnapping. The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery. Authorities hope that the public release of these distinctive communications will prompt someone with crucial information to come forward, potentially shedding light on the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.