Sheriff Releases Ransom Notes in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Investigation

Six months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona, home, the Pima County Sheriff's Office has released two ransom notes in hopes of generating new leads.

Investigators believe the messages contain a distinctive writing style that could help identify the person responsible.

The first note, sent on Feb. 2 to Tucson television station KOLD-TV 13, claimed that 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie had been kidnapped and demanded a $4 million bitcoin ransom. The writer said the payment had to be made by Feb. 5 or the demand would increase to $6 million by Feb. 9. The note threatened to kill Guthrie if the money was not paid and included a detail about a white smartwatch near her bed to support the claim.

A second note, sent on Feb. 6, claimed Guthrie had died shortly after being taken due to a heart-related condition. The writer said they had not intended to harm her, claimed she was "buried in nature," and expressed regret.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC journalist Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on Jan. 31 after being dropped off at her home. She was reported missing the next day when she failed to attend a scheduled church gathering online.

Authorities believe she was abducted from her home against her will. The FBI is investigating the case as a kidnapping for ransom.

The sheriff's office said the released notes may reveal recognizable patterns in the writer's word choice and phrasing. Investigators hope someone familiar with that writing style will come forward with information that could help solve the case.