Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes Reveal Twisted Bombshell

Two disturbing ransom notes connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie have now been released to the public, revealing chilling demands, apparent inside knowledge of her home and a dramatic shift in tone just days after she vanished.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department released the communications Friday in hopes that someone will recognize the writer’s unusual language patterns and help investigators identify the person responsible.

Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona-area home on Feb. 1. Nearly six months later, authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or revealed where she may be.

“These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style,” the sheriff’s department said.

Investigators added that the notes could provide important clues about the writer’s mindset, motives and rapidly changing tone.

The first note was delivered to Tucson CBS affiliate KOLD-TV 13 on Feb. 2, just one day after Nancy disappeared. It was addressed directly to Savannah.

“We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared,” the writer claimed.

The note demanded $4 million in bitcoin and warned that Nancy would be held for no longer than seven days. A second deadline demanded $6 million by Monday, Feb. 9.

If the money was not delivered, the writer warned, Nancy “will be killed.”

“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” the note continued. “It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible.”

The writer also warned the family against involving authorities.

“You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation,” the note said. “Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.”

Perhaps most disturbing, the message included specific descriptions of items inside and around Nancy’s home, including a smartwatch near her bed and a floodlight in her backyard.

Those details appeared to suggest that the writer had either been inside the home or had access to information that was not widely known.

The sender’s name, email address and date of birth were redacted from the publicly released copy.

A second note arrived at the same television station on Feb. 6, four days after the first. This time, the message was addressed to the entire Guthrie family and delivered an even more horrifying claim.

“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” the writer stated. “We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention.”

The note then claimed Nancy had died shortly after being taken.

“She perished shortly after she was taken,” it read. “We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now.”

The writer claimed there was nothing the family could have done to prevent the alleged outcome.

“Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome,” the note said. “We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”

Authorities have not confirmed whether the claims in the second note are true.

After the message was received, Savannah, 54, posted an emotional video on Instagram pleading for her mother’s return.

“We received your message and we understand,” she said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us.”

Savannah also indicated that the family was willing to meet the ransom demand.

“This is very valuable to us, and we will pay,” she said.

As investigators examine the letters, authorities are also renewing attention on an unidentified masked man captured outside Nancy’s home around the time she disappeared.

Doorbell camera footage released by the FBI showed an armed, masked figure at the property on the morning of Feb. 1. Additional footage reportedly captured a masked person at the home on an earlier day.

In some of the images, the suspect appeared to be tampering with the doorbell camera.

Investigators believe someone in the public may recognize the man or may have noticed unusual changes in his behavior immediately before or after Nancy vanished.

The sheriff’s department urged people to consider whether someone they know suddenly cleaned or repaired a vehicle, changed their physical appearance, suffered unexplained injuries or displayed a dramatic change in mood.

Authorities also said suspicious behavior could include either an intense fascination with the case or a sudden and unusual lack of interest in the investigation.

Physical evidence has so far produced few public breakthroughs.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday that DNA testing performed on hair recovered from Nancy’s home did not lead investigators to a suspect.

Nanos also said multiple laboratories are examining another mixed DNA sample collected from the residence.

Investigators are now asking anyone who recognizes the wording, sentence structure or distinctive phrasing in the ransom notes to contact authorities.

Nearly six months after Nancy disappeared, her whereabouts remain unknown, the masked man remains unidentified and the true meaning behind the two chilling notes remains one of the case’s biggest unanswered questions.