New details from the first alleged ransom note for Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, has been revealed nearly six months after she went missing.
Journalist Briana Whitney read from the alleged note during the Wednesday, July 22, episode of the “Crime Junkie” podcast. “Hello, Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy,” it began. “She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom, and once payment is received, she will be released unharmed. We will be holding her for a maximum of seven days.”
The note allegedly demanded millions of dollars in U.S. currency and gave two deadlines.
“Once payment is received to the Bitcoin address below, she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson,” it continued. “If the payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m., she will be killed.”
Savannah, 54, was also issued a stern warning. “Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” the note continued. “It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out. There will be no negotiation. Do not play games. Law enforcement will not be able to help you.”
The message reportedly concluded with additional details about Nancy’s home, including that she “had a white smartwatch that was on the floor near her bed, like at the foot of her bed” and “that there was this floodlight that was destroyed in the backyard.”
According to Whitney, the FBI is still investigating whether the note is real.
Nancy was last seen in Arizona on January 31, one day before her disappearance was reported by a family member who called 911. While Savannah initially took a hiatus from her role at the Today show amid the investigation, she has since returned to the program and has publicly urged fans to come forward with information about her mother’s whereabouts.
In June, Savannah directly addressed one alleged ransom note that alluded to Nancy’s death.
“I don’t have any comment on this story. I’m not involved in our coverage, but I can’t pretend I’m not here,” Savannah said on the Today show at the time. “Since I am, I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask people — really, to beg people — to come forward.”
She added, “Somebody knows something. This is a news story today that is on your radar, because this is the life my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives and our extended families live, that our children live every day. We are in agony. We cannot be in peace.”
No suspects have been named, but the FBI previously released footage of a masked individual outside of Nancy’s home. Authorities and the Guthrie family are offering rewards for credible leads.
