Pima County investigators hope distinctive wording in the messages will help the public identify the person who wrote them.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Authorities released two redacted ransom notes Friday that were sent after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson-area home, hoping the writer’s word choices and sentence patterns will be recognized by someone who knows that person.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department released the messages as the investigation approached six months without an arrest or the recovery of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie. One note demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and threatened Guthrie’s life. A second message claimed she died shortly after she was taken. Authorities have not confirmed that claim, and Guthrie remains listed as missing.
The first note was sent to Tucson television station KOLD on Feb. 2, one day after Guthrie was reported missing. It was addressed to Savannah Guthrie and claimed her mother was frightened but alive. The writer demanded $4 million in bitcoin by Feb. 5 and said the amount would increase to $6 million if the first deadline passed. The cryptocurrency address was removed from the version released to the public.
The message claimed Guthrie would be released in the Tucson area within 12 hours after a payment. It also threatened to kill her if the money was not received by a second deadline. Investigators said the note contained details about a white smartwatch near Guthrie’s bed and damage to an outdoor floodlight. Those details were included as apparent proof that the writer had knowledge of the home or the disappearance.
A second note was sent Feb. 6 and addressed to the Guthrie family. Its tone differed sharply from the first message. The writer claimed Guthrie died shortly after being taken and suggested her death was related to a medical condition. The note also claimed her remains had been left in a natural area. Law enforcement has not verified those statements or announced that Guthrie’s remains have been found.
The second writer said the people responsible had not understood the seriousness of Guthrie’s health problems and had not intended to harm her. Investigators previously said Guthrie has a pacemaker, has difficulty walking and needs daily medication for a heart condition. The message ended with an apology to her family, but it did not provide a location that authorities have publicly connected to Guthrie.
The Sheriff’s Department said the notes contain distinctive patterns involving word choice, sentence structure and phrasing. Investigators believe a relative, friend, coworker, classmate or acquaintance may recognize how the writer communicates. The agency said the changes in tone between the two notes may also provide information about the writer’s thinking and motives.
Officials have not publicly settled questions about the authenticity of every message received during the investigation. The FBI previously said some communications connected to the case were considered unsupported extortion attempts, while other ransom demands remained under investigation. The agency has not specified publicly whether both notes released Friday are considered genuine.
Guthrie was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home on Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Investigators have said they believe she was taken against her will. Video recovered from her doorbell camera showed a masked and armed person appearing to approach the property, interfere with the camera and use a plant to block its view.
The Sheriff’s Department said two pieces of doorbell video may have been recorded on separate days, raising the possibility that the person prepared for the abduction in advance. Authorities described the individual as a man about 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall with an average build. He wore dark gloves and carried a black Ozark Trail backpack.
Investigators have asked the public to remember whether someone they know changed routines, altered his appearance, abruptly left the Tucson area or showed an unusual interest in the case around the time Guthrie disappeared. Authorities have also sought information about unexplained injuries, sudden vehicle cleaning or repairs and unusual knowledge of the neighborhood. Those circumstances alone do not establish that a person was involved.
In February, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings publicly acknowledged reports of a ransom demand and asked for proof that their mother was alive. After the second message was received, the family said it understood the communication and was prepared to pay, while continuing to ask that Nancy Guthrie be returned. The family has since released additional public pleas for information about her whereabouts.
No suspect has been arrested, and authorities have not said how many people may have participated in the suspected kidnapping. Investigators also have not publicly determined whether Guthrie was targeted by a stranger or someone familiar with her, her family or her daily routine.
The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery, while the FBI is offering an additional reward of up to $100,000. The investigation remains active, and authorities said even information that appears minor could help identify the writer or explain what happened to Guthrie.
Author note: Last updated July 31, 2026.