New ransom notes released in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
In a dramatic twist to the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has unveiled ransom notes reportedly sent to Savannah Guthrie after her mother’s mysterious disappearance. Alongside these notes, newly uncovered surveillance footage reveals a masked figure lurking near the Arizona home of the Guthrie family, intensifying the public intrigue.
The release of these ransom notes has sparked a surge in public assistance, with authorities observing a noticeable increase in tips regarding Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts.
While the authenticity of the ransom notes remains unverified, their publication has resulted in a “slight” rise in the number of tips from the public, according to a spokeswoman from the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. The complete contents of these purported ransom notes were made public on July 31.
“Following the release of the two ransom notes last week, investigators from the Nancy Guthrie Task Force have observed a mild increase in the flow of tips,” stated Angelica Carrillo, Public Information Officer for the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement to News Media. “Each tip is being meticulously investigated.”
As the search continues with no definitive answers, Savannah Guthrie, co-host of “Today,” and her family are appealing for greater public vigilance in hopes of locating her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who remains missing. (Courtesy of NBC)
The alleged ransom notes were sent on Feb. 2 and Feb. 6.
“Hello Savannah,” one of the notes read. “We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed.”
“She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed,” it continued.
In a follow-up message sent to the Guthrie family, the alleged ransom notes states that Nancy Guthrie has passed away.
Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC’s “Today Show” live from Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related,” the purported ransom note states.
As previously noted, News Media has not independently verified the authenticity of the notes or their contents.
READ THE NOTES:
The first purported Nancy Guthrie ransom demand was sent on Feb. 2, a day after her suspected abduction in Tucson, according to authorities.
The second message was sent on Feb. 6, and authorities say it shares the same “unique linguistic style” as the original ransom demand.
News Media learned of the watch on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 3, a day after the note was sent, according to authorities. That timeline suggests the sender knew about the watch before the detail became public.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI negotiator, said the watch detail demonstrates familiarity with the house but not necessarily knowledge unique to Guthrie or proof that she was alive.
This image released by the FBI shows an armed individual who appears to have a light emitting from his mouth at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Tucson, Arizona, Sunday, February 1, 2026. (Provided by FBI)
“He knew about the watch on the floor — almost nobody did,” Pack said. “In my view, two things the language does support: He writes like a native English speaker. The idiom and the small connecting words are all in the right places, and at this length that is hard to fake.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or 520-88-CRIME to remain anonymous.