The first ransom note allegedly sent by the kidnapper of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been revealed, according to a report from the “Crime Junkie” podcast. The note, read by journalist Briana Whitney nearly six months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance from her Tucson, Arizona, home, contains a stern warning and a strict deadline.
The message began, “Hello, Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy,” according to Whitney. It stated that Nancy was safe but scared and would be held for ransom, with a promise of her unharmed release once payment was received within a maximum of seven days. The alleged abductor demanded millions of dollars in U.S. currency, specifying that payment should be sent to a provided Bitcoin address. The note outlined that following the deposit, Nancy would be released within 12 hours to a safe drop-off location back in Tucson.
However, the note also included a dire ultimatum: “If the payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m., she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands.” The message further conveyed, “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.”
Whitney also claimed the note contained specific details about Nancy Guthrie's home, including a "white smart watch… on the floor near her bed, like, at the foot of the bed" and a "floodlight… destroyed in the backyard.”
The FBI has not yet confirmed the authenticity of this note. An anonymous FBI insider reportedly told Reuters earlier this month that “none of the ransom notes are believed to be genuine,” a claim corroborated by a second law enforcement source. Another note, allegedly sent by the same individual, was reported to have a less confident tone and offered an apology for Nancy’s inadvertent death.
Savannah Guthrie has publicly addressed her mother's disappearance, pleading for information. In an emotional statement on the “Today” show, she described the ongoing agony and urged the public to come forward, emphasizing that "somebody knows something.” She highlighted the daily reality of the situation for her family, stating, “This is a news story today that is on your radar, but this is the live my sister, [Annie Guthrie], lives, that I live, that my brother, [Camron Guthrie], lives, that our extended families live, that our children live every day.”