Arizona authorities investigating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are examining a “new, possible ransom note” as they search for a breakthrough nearly eight months after the 84-year-old vanished.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has not said when the alleged note was sent, who received it or what it contained, but indicated that investigators are also reviewing discussion about it on social media.
“The PCSD [Pima County Sheriff’s Department]/FBI Guthrie Task Force was recently made aware of a new possible ransom note related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation,” the department said in a post on X Monday.
“Investigators are also aware of social media comments regarding the note and are looking further into the information to determine its credibility.”
The FBI has not publicly commented on the development, and neither has Guthrie’s daughter, television star Savannah Guthrie.
Two ransom notes were sent to Arizona news station KOLD-13 within a week of Guthrie being taken from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills.
Authorities have long suspected that Guthrie was abducted from her bed.
The first note, received February 2, stated that Guthrie would be “released unharmed” if her family paid $4 million in bitcoin by 5 p.m. on February 5.
“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,” the alleged kidnappers wrote.
“Once payment is received to the bitcoin address below she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not recieved [sic] by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed.”
“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” the note continued, warning the Guthrie family “not to play games.”
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A second note, sent February 6, adopted a more remorseful tone while suggesting that Guthrie might already have died.
“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” the message stated, apparently referring to Guthrie’s frailty.
“We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken.
“We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. 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.”
The identities of the people who sent the two notes remain unknown. However, forensic psychologist Gary Brucato said in August that the messages appeared to have been written by two different individuals.
Brucato believed the ransom demand came from someone calculating and intelligent, while the second message appeared to have been written by a more emotional person.
He also suggested that the author of one of the notes may have had a connection to Savannah Guthrie.
No arrests have been made, despite the notes being released publicly around the six-month mark of the investigation.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said he hoped publishing the notes would prompt someone in the community to come forward with information.
The Guthrie family are offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to the matriarch being recovered.
That reward remains active and the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward.