Ransom Note Claims Nancy Guthrie Died After Abduction
A ransom note sent days after the 84-year-old mother of US presenter Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her home claimed she had died, according to investigators.
The note was one of two addressed to Nancy Guthrie's family and sent to news media in the days following her January kidnapping.
The first note demanded millions in bitcoin for her release, but the second stated that she had died, according to sources cited by US media.
The note from the possible kidnappers reportedly stated they did not mean for her to die and included an apology to the family. The Pima County Sheriff's Department declined to comment on the contents of the notes but said the investigation "remains active and ongoing".
Tearful Savannah Guthrie Blames Herself for Mother's Kidnapping
On Tuesday morning, during her first appearance on NBC's Today show since news of the second ransom note emerged, Savannah Guthrie addressed the situation with tears on her face.
"Somebody knows something," she said. "We are in agony."
"This is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life we live every day," Guthrie added.
The longtime television presenter again pleaded for anyone with information to come forward.
Ongoing Investigation by Authorities
The BBC has contacted the FBI, which, alongside Pima County authorities, has spent months investigating Nancy Guthrie's mysterious abduction from her home near Tucson, Arizona.
"The Pima County Sheriff's Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case," a spokesperson for the sheriff's department said.
The BBC's US partner CBS and other outlets reported on Monday that law enforcement had requested media outlets hold off publishing details of the ransom notes while the investigation was ongoing.
Details of Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance and Ransom Notes
Nancy Guthrie vanished after being dropped off at her home by relatives on 31 January. Concern increased when she did not attend a friend's house to watch a virtual Sunday church service the following morning.
An initial ransom note was sent the day after her disappearance, demanding millions in bitcoin for her release.
The note included specific details about her home, her bedroom, and the home's surroundings, investigators told CBS.
The note was reportedly addressed to Savannah Guthrie and was sent to multiple media outlets, including a local TV station which reportedly complied with a police request not to disclose its contents.
It has now emerged that a second note, sent on 6 February, used language similar to the first but did not include any demands. Instead, it apologized for Nancy Guthrie's death and stated it was inadvertent.
Family's Response and Public Appeals
Following the two notes, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a video addressed to the kidnappers.
"We received your message, and we understand," the NBC host said. "We beg you now to return our mother to us." She added that the family "would pay".
Authorities and the Guthrie family repeatedly warned the public that the elderly victim was in poor health and lacked critical medication.
As the search continued, authorities released images of a masked person seen on security camera footage outside Nancy Guthrie's home.
The Guthrie family had offered a $1 million (£760,000) reward, in addition to $100,000 pledged by the FBI, for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's return.
Ongoing Hope and Media Coverage
On 24 February, Savannah Guthrie expressed that the family would keep hoping despite the possibility that Nancy Guthrie may be lost or already gone.
"We know that she may be lost, she may already be gone," Guthrie said.
In a March interview with NBC, Guthrie stated that several ransom notes were sent and that she believed some were bogus. She also told the network her family believed the two initial notes were authentic.
Guthrie stepped away from NBC's Today show for over two months while the investigation was underway. She returned to the program in early April as the search continued.
