Investigators have noted a slight increase in tips following the release of alleged ransom notes in the case of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office stated that all new leads have been pursued.
The full content of the notes, reportedly sent on February 2 and February 6, was released by the Sheriff's Office on July 31. One note addressed to "Savannah" stated, "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."
This initial note also mentioned specific details about the scene, stating, "She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed." According to authorities, Fox News Digital was informed about the watch on the morning of February 3, a day after the note was sent, suggesting the sender may have had prior knowledge of certain details.
Second Note Claims Death
A subsequent message sent to the Guthrie family reportedly indicated that Nancy Guthrie had died. "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 second note reads. Fox News Digital has not independently verified the authenticity of these notes.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI negotiator, commented on the details within the notes. He noted that the mention of the watch demonstrated familiarity with the household but did not definitively prove the sender's unique knowledge or that Guthrie was alive at the time. Pack also observed that the writing style, with its native-like idioms and sentence structure, would be difficult to fabricate accurately.
Nancy Guthrie has been missing for over six months. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Office at 520-88-CRIME.