Authorities have released two ransom notes in the six-month-old investigation into the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie. Police are hoping that a detailed linguistic analysis of the documents will provide clues to identify her kidnappers.
Nancy Guthrie, then 84, went missing from her Arizona home in January. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has pursued an extensive investigation but has few leads and suspects.
The released notes, which are being treated as credible, demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin. A second note claimed that Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after she was taken.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that the writer's "distinct linguistic characteristics" might be recognizable, suggesting that "there are a number of pieces of information in these notes that just might jar someone to say 'you know, I've heard that.'"
Forensic linguists say that it is possible to glean crucial information about an individual from a small amount of text. This is based on the concept of an "idiolect," or a unique way of speaking and writing that distinguishes individuals. However, experts also caution that investigators must maintain scientific skepticism, especially when working with limited text. They must also consider the possibility that the writer may be attempting to disguise their natural writing style.
Security footage from Nancy Guthrie's home shows a suspect wearing a ski mask, gloves, and a zipped-up coat. The individual also appears to be holding branches to obscure a camera lens and has a flashlight in their mouth.
