Investigators Review Possible New Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
Authorities in Pima County are investigating a possible new ransom note tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. The Guardian
The sheriff's department and the FBI task force on the case learned of the note and related social media comments recently. Investigators are now testing whether it is credible. Officials have not yet said how the note was found or what it contains.
Guthrie went missing on 1 February from her home outside Tucson, Arizona. She is the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. As of 29 September 2026, authorities had not said whether she is alive. No suspects have been arrested.
In July, authorities made public two ransom notes sent to a Tucson television station days after Guthrie went missing. The first note, sent 2 February, said Guthrie was safe but scared and would be released unharmed for $4 million in cryptocurrency — digital money that is hard to trace. The second note, sent 6 February, said she died shortly after she was taken.
The FBI also released surveillance video of a masked person who authorities said appeared to tamper with a camera on Guthrie's front porch and block it with a plant. That footage is the main physical lead described in public so far.
Earlier assessments cast doubt on the ransom communications. An FBI official speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters that none of the notes are believed to be genuine. Reuters Authorities later released an early ransom note hoping someone would recognize it. AP
The broader context here is how difficult ransom claims are to handle in a high-profile disappearance. Notes can come from people involved, from opportunists, or from people seeking attention. Investigators must separate authentication from publicity, checking origin, language, delivery method and any holdback detail only someone involved would know, without taking steps that invite more false claims.
Looking at what comes next, the immediate question is narrow. If review finds signs of private knowledge, the task force would likely adjust resources and outreach. If not, the case returns to its prior posture, with forensic review of the porch video and tip triage continuing without a named suspect or a confirmed account of Guthrie's condition.
