Cops released the full contents of alleged ransom notes sent within days of Nancy Guthrie’s mysterious disappearance for the first time Friday – as the search for the missing grandma hits the heart-wrenching six-month mark.
The two chilling notes were emailed to the news desk of local outlet KOLD-13 on Feb. 2 and Feb. 6, from someone claiming to have the beloved grandma, Pima County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a new X post, while releasing images of the notes.
The first one – sent just one day after the mom was reported missing from her Tucson home – was addressed to Nancy Guthrie’s “Today” show co-host daughter, Savannah Guthrie.
“Hello Savannah, 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,” the harrowing note began.
“We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days. You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5PM on Thursday the 5th. 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.
“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,” the note warned.
“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you,” the note continues, followed by a redacted line.
“She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed,” the chilling message concludes.
The second, shorter note, was sent four days later and claimed that 84-year-old Nancy had died.
“Guthrie Family, 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. 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,” it read.
The sender’s name, email address and date of birth sections were redacted from both email forms released by cops.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said that the notes reveal “distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style.
“They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time,” the office’s X post reads.
“As with the unidentified male depicted in the video, we believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes’ writer,” reads the post.
“A friend, family member, coworker, classmate, or acquaintance may recognize these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible,” it continues.
Surveillance footage video taken from Nancy Guthrie’s home – which show a man cloaked in all black hovering around Nancy Guthrie’s front door – may be from two separate days, the sheriff’s office said, and added that they’re “critical to our understanding of [his] behaviors and choices.”
“They indicate he took steps to prepare for the event on the night of January 31 to February 1.”
The post also includes a list of “observed changes” that acquaintances may have seen in the unidentified man’s behavior around the time of the abduction, including displays of anxiety, nervousness or irritability, a change of physical appearance, unexplained injuries, normal routine changes, sudden departures, vehicle cleaning or repairs, unexplained interest or disinterest in Nancy’s neighborhood or noticeable, intense interest or disinterest in the abduction case, which has continually made international headlines.
The desperate plea for information comes exactly six months after Nancy Guthrie was last seen while being dropped home by family on the evening of Jan. 31.
“Investigators continue to pursue every available technological and investigative lead,” the sheriff’s office insisted Friday.
“However, community members remain a vital resource as we seek to provide answers for Nancy’s family.”
The family is offering up to a $1 million reward for Nancy Guthrie’s return — and anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI OR 88-CRIME.
Earlier this week, Savannah Guthrie took to Instagram to make a fresh appeal to her mom’s kidnappers, telling them to “do the right thing.”
“The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way,” she said Monday, appearing to address the kidnappers directly.
“So I am asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now,” she added.
