Two ransom notes sent to "Today" host Savannah Guthrie have been released, with one claiming her mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, died shortly after her abduction and is "buried in nature." The Pima County Sheriff's Office released the notes on Friday, six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1.
The first note, received on February 2, demanded a $4 million ransom in Bitcoin within seven days, threatening to increase the amount and ultimately kill Nancy Guthrie if payment was not made. The second note, received on February 6, shifted tone, offering an apology and stating, "We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition." It claimed Nancy Guthrie "perished shortly after she was taken" and believed it was "heart related."
Despite the release of the notes, investigators have few clues and no official suspects, according to the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Chris Nanos stated the investigation is active and will not go cold, emphasizing that evidence is being carefully handled to maintain its integrity.
Meanwhile, two men who were arrested and later released in connection with the disappearance are preparing to file a $3.5 million lawsuit against Sheriff Nanos and an unnamed detective. Carlos Palazuelos and Daniel Maddox allege wrongful arrest and reputational damage. Their notice of claim describes their arrests as dramatic, including being held at gunpoint and having their homes searched.
Palazuelos, a food delivery driver, was arrested on February 10 near the Mexican border and questioned for eight hours. His home was searched, and he was later released without charges. Maddox was detained for several hours the same day at his mother's home, also being released without charges. Both men claim their detentions were wrongful and caused them significant harm.
The lawsuit notice further alleges that Sheriff Nanos's social media posts and statements from his office portrayed Palazuelos as a suspect without sufficient evidence. Palazuelos had previously stated that officers told him he resembled surveillance footage released from Guthrie's home.
Sheriff Nanos, in a recent interview, indicated that at least one of the men was not in the clear, stating that releasing individuals does not mean they are cleared but rather that there was insufficient evidence to hold them at that time. He added that evidence prompting search warrants remains valid and could be revisited.
A third man was arrested on February 13 and subsequently released, and three other individuals were questioned during a home raid the same night.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department marked the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance by stating that DNA and digital evidence analysis is ongoing and complex, urging anyone with information to come forward. Savannah Guthrie publicly addressed her mother for the first time since June 23 in an Instagram video, describing the situation as a "never-ending nightmare" and stating, "We have done our part. We will never stop looking for her."