Nancy Guthrie, 84, remains missing after she was taken from her Tucson home in the early hours of Feb. 1. In the days after the abduction, two ransom notes addressed to her family were received by local media. On Friday, the Pima County Sheriff's Department released details of those notes and asked the public for help identifying the person who wrote them; authorities say the move resulted in a "slight increase" in tips but has not yielded a breakthrough.
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Nancy Guthrie, 84, shown in a photo provided by the FBI; she was abducted from her Tucson home on Feb. 1 and remains missing.
The first note, sent on Feb. 2 to Savannah Guthrie, said, "We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared." That message demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and warned that "she will be killed" if payment was not made. The ransom demand included specific details about items in the home, mentioning a smartwatch near her bed and a damaged floodlight in the backyard. The second communication, received on Feb. 6 and directed to the family, stated that Nancy Guthrie had died and was "buried in nature now." That note went on to say, "We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition," and included an apology: "We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken."
Authorities said the second note also sought to console the family, asserting, "Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace." The sheriff's office has released the full text of both notes to the public in hopes that someone will recognize the handwriting, phrasing or other distinctive elements and come forward. Investigators emphasize that every tip received since the release has been followed up on.
Law enforcement agencies have also put images into the public record as part of their appeal. The FBI provided a photograph of Guthrie and has circulated camera images linked to the investigation. Investigators have released night-vision and thermal images that show a masked individual near the Guthrie residence; authorities say those images, along with the ransom-note release, prompted the modest uptick in calls to investigators. The agency also shared a doorbell-camera photo of a person at the front door that was captured on a day prior to Feb. 1, and other images tied to the timeline of the abduction.
Night‑vision/thermal images released by investigators showing a masked individual near the Guthrie residence — authorities say the ransom‑note release generated only a 'slight increase' in tips.
In response to inquiries from law enforcement, the sheriff's department said investigators "have seen a slight increase in tips since the two ransom notes were released," adding plainly that "all tips have been followed up on." Despite that activity, officials acknowledged publicly that none of the recent information has cracked the case or led to the safe recovery of Nancy Guthrie. Investigators continue to work leads and encourage anyone with relevant information to contact authorities.
Savannah Guthrie has made repeated, public appeals for help finding her mother. In an Instagram post over the weekend she wrote, "We need someone to come forward." She urged the public to act, saying, "Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes. Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual -- perhaps with someone they deeply love. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward." She added, "We are real people, facing real grief. We will never stop looking for answers."
Investigators have provided contact information for people who may have information. Anyone with tips or knowledge relevant to the case is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900. Law enforcement says it will continue to review and pursue all leads and appeals to the public to share any observations, however small they may seem, that could aid the ongoing investigation.
The FBI Phoenix office has stated that while some ransom notes tied to the disappearance were deemed illegitimate extortion attempts, others continue to be investigated as potentially authentic. Sheriff Chris Nanos released a video alongside the notes, hoping the move would prompt community tips as the case passed the six-month mark with no resolution.
Forensics testing on hair collected from the Guthrie home produced a mixed DNA profile containing material from up to four people, investigators say, but those results have not led to an identification or suspect. (thedailybeast.com)
Authorities briefly detained a person for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson earlier in the investigation; officials have said the detention did not result in charges. (wtop.com)
Investigators reported finding a small amount of blood inside the home and what appeared to be dried blood next to the front doormat, evidence officials say has been processed but has not been publicly linked to a suspect. (cbsnews.com)
The FBI has provided analytical and technical support to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in the case, including analysis of cell‑tower data and assistance with interviews and other investigative tasks. (tucson.com)