Second Ransom Note Alleges Nancy Guthrie Is Deceased: Report

A recent report indicates that a second ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case suggests that the missing family matriarch is deceased.

On Monday, May 22, NBC News revealed it had examined two notes said to have been sent after the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy, on February 1. One note reportedly stated that Nancy had died, without an apology or any request for a payment for the return of her remains, according to the report.

Conversely, TMZ reported that a different ransom note it obtained did not contain an apology or acknowledgement of Nancy’s death. It’s unclear if the note received by TMZ was sent by the same individual who initially reached out to the authorities.

The site further reported that it had received numerous emails from yet another individual claiming to know Nancy’s location and the identities of her supposed kidnappers.

This person, who emphasized they were not directly involved in the abduction, first requested bitcoin in exchange for vital information. An initial email warned that “time is of the essence,” while a subsequent email suggested that “time is no longer of the essence,” implying that Nancy may no longer be alive.

Us Weekly contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Office for a statement.

Nancy was last seen alive after being dropped off at her home by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, on the evening of January 31. She was reported missing the next day after a friend informed the Guthrie family that Nancy had not attended a scheduled virtual worship service. (Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, and her spouse were cleared in the investigation by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.)

Despite authorities releasing doorbell camera footage showing a masked individual at the Guthrie residence, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified. On February 24, Savannah, 54, shared a video on social media offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return.

Attention on the alleged ransom notes in this case was renewed over the weekend following a report by Air Mail, which stated that investigators had initially received communication from a claimed kidnapper on February 2.

The report mentioned that the first note indicated Nancy was “safe but scared” and demanded $4 million to be paid by February 5 for her return, warning that the amount would increase to $6 million if the payment was not made by February 9. This initial note allegedly warned that their demands must be met “or else,” according to Air Mail.

A law enforcement task force reportedly utilized a strategy known as “tickling the wire,” sending $152 to a Bitcoin account to track potential financial interactions with the alleged kidnapper. The funds were reportedly not accessed, and the deadline passed without any action from the alleged kidnapper.

On February 6, authorities received a second note characterized by a “sputtering and labored” tone in which the writer claimed Nancy was dead and offered to return her body for an undisclosed sum, as reported by Air Mail.