Police release ransom notes in Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case six months after disappearance

Six months after the kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie from her Tucson home, the Pima County Sheriff's Department has publicly released two ransom notes. The first note demanded up to $6 million in Bitcoin, while the second claimed Guthrie died of a heart condition shortly after her abduction. Investigators and family members, including her daughter, NBC host Savannah Guthrie, hope the author's unique business-like writing style will help the public identify the kidnapper.

Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case

• ▪Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1, 2026.
• ▪The Pima County Sheriff's Department released two previously withheld ransom notes on July 31, 2026, marking six months since Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

Ransom note contents

• ▪The second ransom note, received on February 6, 2026, claimed Nancy Guthrie died shortly after her abduction due to a heart-related condition and was buried in nature.
• ▪The first ransom note cited specific details to prove authenticity, including a white smartwatch left on the floor and a destroyed backyard floodlight.
• ▪The first ransom note, received on February 2, 2026, demanded $4 million in Bitcoin, rising to $6 million if not paid by February 9, 2026.

Linguistic analysis of notes

• ▪Former FBI supervisory special agent Jason Pack stated the notes appear to be written by a native English speaker using professional office-style language.
• ▪The Pima County Sheriff's Department released the notes hoping someone would recognize the writer's unique linguistic style, syntax, and phraseology.

Public appeals for information

• ▪Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at 520-351-4900.
• ▪The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to a breakthrough in the case.

Unabomber case precedent

• ▪The FBI previously used a similar strategy of releasing a suspect's writings during the Unabomber investigation, which ultimately led to the arrest of Ted Kaczynski.

Savannah Guthrie plea

• ▪Savannah Guthrie shared an emotional public appeal on August 1, 2026, describing the six-month anniversary of her mother's disappearance as an agony beyond words.
• ▪Savannah Guthrie criticized true crime influencers and online sleuths, stating that those following the story for entertainment or profit are part of the harm.