Ransom Note Claimed Nancy Guthrie Died After Admittance

Tue Jun 23 2026 12:54:55 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An eerie ransom note sent on February 6 asserts 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC host Savannah, died after a kidnapping. Investigators remain on the case.

When Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home, the first ransom note demanded millions in bitcoin. A second note, sent days later, shockingly claimed she had died, though the sender apologized claiming it was inadvertent. Police and the FBI are still probing the circumstances, keeping a $1 million reward on offer. The case has caused family and networks to pause as they await new developments.

Ransom Note Claims Nancy Guthrie Died After Abduction

When the 84‑year‑old mother of NBC’s Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home on 31 January, a chilling ransom note followed. The first note demanded millions of bitcoin for her release, but a second, sent on 6 February, shocked observers by claiming she had already died, while including an apology that “it was unintended.”

Local law‑enforcement and the FBI say the investigation is still active, and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment further on the notes’ contents. They added that the case remains a “high‑priority” effort, coordinating closely with national investigators.

The family, offering a $1 million reward, has repeatedly warned the public about Nancy’s frail health and lack of critical medication, heightening the urgency. Meanwhile, media outlets received a direct request to not publish details of the notes until investigations were fully underway.

With the latest developments, Savannah Guthrie has released a public statement urging the kidnappers to return her mother, underscoring their belief that the first two notes were authentic but expressing doubt over additional, possibly bogus, messages. The case threatens to stay in the headlines unless new insights surface.