Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie Case Said She Died After Kidnapping, Sources Say
A second note sent to a Tucson television station in the weeks after Nancy Guthrie's disappearance said she died shortly after being abducted, sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News and ABC News on Sunday. The contents of the note had not been previously disclosed, though the existence of a second note was already known to investigators and the public.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She was kidnapped from her home near Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1, 2026, and her whereabouts remain unknown.
What the Second Note Said
Both notes were sent to KOLD, a local Tucson television station, within days of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. The first note said she was safe and demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for her release. The second note told a different story entirely.
According to sources, the second note stated that Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after being taken and that she had been buried in nature. The note said those responsible did not intend to kill her. It contained no apology and made no request for payment for the release of her body.
Jessica Bobula, the news director at KOLD, previously described the second note as differing from the first "in almost every way." Investigators told NBC News they believe both notes are potentially credible, and the FBI has worked to trace their origins.
How the Disappearance Unfolded
Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on January 31 at her home. She was reported missing the following morning. Ten days later, the FBI released doorbell camera footage showing a masked and armed man outside her home around the time of the abduction. FBI Director Kash Patel also shared surveillance images from the scene on social media.
The suspect was described as a man of average build, between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack 25-liter backpack. He has not been identified. No arrests have been made.
Savannah Guthrie's Public Response
Shortly after the second note was received, Savannah Guthrie posted a video to Instagram alongside her brother, Camron, and sister, Annie. In it, she spoke directly to whoever held her mother.
"We received your message and we understand," Savannah Guthrie said. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
The video did not reference the specific contents of the note. At the time, neither the family nor investigators had publicly confirmed what the second message contained.
In March, Savannah Guthrie gave her first interview about the case, speaking with former TODAY co-host Hoda Kotb. She said the family "cannot be at peace" without answers and urged anyone with information to come forward.
"Someone can do the right thing, and it is never too late to do the right thing," she said.
She returned to the TODAY show in early June, saying the experience had been "not easy" but that she needed to continue working while the search for her mother goes on.
The Search Continues
The case has remained open for nearly five months with no confirmed leads on the suspect's identity or Nancy Guthrie's location. Savannah Guthrie has publicly questioned whether her mother was targeted because of her own high-profile career, though investigators have not confirmed a motive.
The FBI has not indicated whether the notes point to a specific individual or group. Investigators have not released information about the cryptocurrency demand in the first note or whether any contact was made in response.
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
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