Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI have published the complete text of two ransom notes, hoping the release will spark fresh information and help move the case forward.
Nancy, 84, was reported missing after events that began on January 31 and have since led to a lengthy investigation involving local and federal authorities. The case has now been classified as a homicide investigation, though Nancy remains missing.
Investigators say one of the newly disclosed messages, sent by someone claiming to be holding her, said she was ‘safe but scared’ and demanded a $4 million ransom in Bitcoin for her release.
“We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days.
“If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. 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.”
Authorities have laid out a timeline from the night she disappeared. Nancy Guthrie took an Uber to her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home for dinner at about 5:32 pm and was driven back later that evening by family members.
Sheriff Chris Nanos said the garage door at Nancy’s home opened at roughly 9:48 pm and shut again at 9:50 pm.
“It is that time we assume that Nancy’s home and probably going to bed,” he added.
According to investigators, her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 am. About 25 minutes later, motion was detected by the system. At 2:28 am, her pacemaker app was cut off from her cellphone.
When Nancy failed to appear at church, a friend alerted her relatives. Family members went to her house at 11:56 am and found she was gone. A 911 call was placed at 12:03 pm, and deputies arrived 12 minutes later.
Nanos told CBS News that he believes Nancy was taken from the property overnight.
“She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly,” he added.
As reports emerged about alleged ransom demands sent to news organizations, Nanos said detectives were examining the “possible ransom note(s).” He also confirmed that blood located on the porch outside Nancy’s home belonged to her.
Her children, Savannah, Annie and Camron Guthrie, later released an emotional appeal on Instagram asking for whoever may have her to make contact.
“We are ready to talk,” Savannah said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive, and that you have her.”
The FBI then offered a $50,000 reward “for information leading to the recovery” of Nancy.
Camron Guthrie issued a separate public plea, saying: “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.”
Law enforcement also said it was “aware of a new message” sent to KOLD, the Tucson CBS affiliate. Around the same time, the sheriff’s department stated that investigators were carrying out additional work at Nancy’s home and in nearby areas.
In another social media video, Nancy’s children again addressed the person they believe took her. Savannah said:
“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said, before adding: “This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Later, authorities were seen leaving Annie’s house with a bag shortly after 10:30 pm. PEOPLE reported that one official appeared to be wearing blue gloves.
The investigation also led to the release of doorbell images. FBI Director Kash Patel said the pictures show “an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance'”.
When sharing those images on Instagram, Savannah wrote: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.”
Authorities further said a man was detained for questioning during a traffic stop, but he was released the next day.
The FBI said: “The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9″ – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack.”
The bureau later doubled its reward offer to $100,000.
Investigators also recovered a glove near Nancy’s property that appeared similar to gloves worn by the suspect seen on the doorbell footage. The FBI said it was one of “approximately” 16 gathered as evidence. Subsequent testing, however, did not produce any matches in the national DNA database.
Nanos also made clear that Nancy’s relatives were no longer being considered possible suspects.
“To be clear … the Guthrie family – to include all siblings and spouses – has been cleared as possible suspects in this case,” Nanos said. “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.”
Beyond the FBI’s reward money, the Guthrie family announced a separate personal reward of up to $1 million.
“Somebody knows. We are begging you to please come forward now,” Savannah said.
Timothy Courchaine, US Attorney for the District of Arizona, said federal prosecutors had remained involved throughout the case.
“Federal prosecutors traditionally work with all levels of law enforcement and have done so throughout this investigation,” said Timothy Courchaine, US Attorney for the District of Arizona.
The Associated Press reported that Savannah, along with family members, was seen leaving flowers at the property.
She later wrote on Instagram: “We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, from the Tucson community and from around the country,”
In a preview of a later interview on Today, Savannah spoke about the strain of the case in deeply personal terms.
“It is unbearable, and to think of what she went through. I wake up every night, in the middle of the night, every night, and in the darkness, I imagine her terror, and it is unthinkable, but those thoughts demand to be thought, and I will not hide my face, but she needs to come home now,” Savannah told Today in a preview of the interview ahead of it airing in full.
“We are in agony. It is unbearable. And to think of what she went through.”
Appearing emotional during her return to the show, Savannah thanked her co-hosts for supporting her family and asked viewers for “everybody’s prayers”.
NBC News also reported that a second note was sent to several media outlets days after Nancy disappeared. That message allegedly claimed she had died, but did not explain how and did not ask for money in exchange for the return of her body.
While fighting back tears on Today, Savannah made another direct appeal for answers.
Tearing up while on Today, she said: “I want to just take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward.
“Somebody knows something, and this is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day. And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace.”
Recent Developments and Ransom Note Analysis
As the investigation approaches the six-month mark, the FBI has clarified its assessment of multiple ransom communications received in the case. While some notes have been deemed extortion attempts without legitimacy, the FBI stated that other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such.
The first ransom note, sent on February 2 to the CBS Tucson affiliate KOLD-TV, was addressed to Savannah Guthrie and included specific details about Nancy’s home that lent it credibility with investigators. The note contained descriptions of a smart watch with a white wrist band left on the floor beside Nancy’s bed and a damaged floodlight on the home’s back porch. The note demanded $4 million in Bitcoin, with a deadline of 5 PM on Thursday, February 5, warning that the ransom would increase to $6 million if not paid by 5 PM on Monday, February 9.
A second note was received by media outlets on February 6 and was addressed to the Guthrie family. This message claimed that Nancy had died and stated she was “buried in nature now,” adding “We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition.”
In early July, the FBI clarified that some of the notes received were extortion attempts, while noting that several others remain under investigation for potential legitimacy. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department emphasized that “every tip and lead is taken seriously” and is sent to detectives who continue to work in coordination with the FBI.
As of late July 2026, Sheriff Chris Nanos reaffirmed that “The Guthrie investigation remains active and ongoing. A task force of investigators from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI remains committed to finding Nancy and providing answers to her family.”
On July 27, Savannah posted a new video message on Instagram six months into her mother’s disappearance, pleading with the person who may have taken her mother to “do the right thing” and “tell us where to look for her.” The sheriff’s office stressed that the case remains active and voiced optimism that it will be resolved, despite there being no major breaks in the months following Nancy’s disappearance.
The 84-year-old mother remains missing, and authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Tucson’s 88-Crime tip line at 520-882-7463.