Pima County officials released the full text of two ransom emails on Friday that investigators say were tied to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of a high-profile morning news co-anchor. The documents, first provided to news outlets in the days after Guthrie vanished and now posted by the sheriff's department, were accompanied by a renewed request for public tips to help identify a masked individual captured on video near Guthrie's home around the time she went missing.
The emails had been widely discussed in media reports early in the investigation, but had not previously been posted in their entirety by authorities. The sheriff's department emphasized that the messages contain word choices and phrasing that could be familiar to someone close to their author, and urged people with relevant knowledge to come forward.
Details of the messages
The first message, dated Monday, February 2 - one day after Guthrie was reported missing - demanded a $4 million payment in bitcoin within three days. It warned that failure to meet that deadline would lead to an increased demand of $6 million due the following Monday, February 9. The note stated explicitly: "she will be killed," and included the line "Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands," adding that "there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you."
As a means of corroboration, the message referenced specific observations about Guthrie's home, stating that her wristwatch had been left on the floor at the foot of her bed, and that a backyard floodlight had been "destroyed." According to the sheriff's office, these details were intended to show the sender had direct access to information about Guthrie's residence.
The second note, received on February 6 and addressed to the "Guthrie Family," delivered a markedly different message. It began: "We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition." The communique went on to say that Guthrie "perished shortly after she was taken," attributing the cause to a heart-related issue, and adding that she had been "buried in nature now." The note closed with an apparent expression of remorse: "We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry."
Family appeals and public outreach
In recent social media posts, Savannah Guthrie, the missing woman's daughter and a long-time co-anchor on a national morning program, has appealed directly to the kidnappers. In the most recent video, posted since the release of the ransom texts, she asked the abductors to "do the right thing" and to "tell us where to look for her."
Authorities reiterated that the man seen in surveillance footage knows what happened to Nancy Guthrie, and they urged anyone who recognizes him to contact investigators. The surveillance footage, released on February 10, shows an armed individual wearing a ski mask tampering with a doorbell camera shortly before Guthrie disappeared.
Circumstances around the disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, described by relatives as in frail health with limited mobility, was last observed alive at her Tucson home on January 31. She was reported missing on February 1 after her absence from Sunday church services prompted a friend to alert the family. Relatives who checked on her that day found her gone and several essential items left behind, including her wallet, cellphone, hearing aids and medication. Blood later confirmed by DNA testing to be hers was discovered on the front porch.
Authorities have said they continue to investigate leads and examine evidence related to the case. The sheriff's department highlighted that the ransom notes show identifiable patterns in word choice, syntax and phrasing, and suggested that someone familiar with the author might recognize those patterns. The department also said the individual captured on video may have shown an abrupt change in mood, behavior or daily routine around the time of the abduction, and that the person could have altered their appearance, including hairstyle and facial hair.
Ongoing uncertainties
Investigators have not publicly confirmed the factual accuracy of the ransom claims, including the assertion that Guthrie "perished" after the abduction. The identity of the masked person in the surveillance footage remains unknown. Officials continue to solicit information from the public that might lead to identifying the individual seen near Guthrie's doorbell camera or otherwise connect someone to the case.
The release of the complete ransom messages marks the latest step in an active investigation now months old, and it comes as family members continue to press for information that could locate Guthrie or establish what occurred during the disappearance.