Nearly six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home, the contents of the first ransom note sent in the case have been made public for the first time.
Crime journalist Briana Whitney read portions of the note aloud during a July 23 episode of the Crime Junkie podcast, hosted by Ashley Flowers. According to Whitney, the message - sent just one day after Nancy was reported missing - began: "Hello Savannah, we have your mother Nancy. 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 reportedly demanded $4 million in Bitcoin by February 5, increasing to $6 million if unpaid by February 9. Whitney noted the letter also referenced two specific details never made public - a white smartwatch found near Nancy's bed, and a destroyed floodlight in her backyard - details investigators have said only someone with knowledge of the scene could have known.
A Crime Junkie spokesperson confirmed the podcast did not publish copies of the actual documents, and the authenticity of the notes has not been independently verified by investigators. Whitney also referenced a separate, later note claiming Nancy had died shortly after the abduction - a claim that, like the others, remains unconfirmed.
Nancy, 84, mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home on January 31 and reported missing the next morning after she failed to appear for a Sunday church livestream - something her family has said she never missed. The case remains an active homicide investigation, with no suspect publicly named.
Through nearly six months without answers, the Guthrie family's faith has remained the visible constant. Savannah has repeatedly thanked viewers on-air for their prayers, telling them, "We feel your prayers."
A combined reward of more than $1.2 million remains active for information leading to Nancy's safe return. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Tucson's 88-CRIME tip line at 520-351-4900.
Related Article: What Do We Know Now About Her Disappearance and Why Is the Case Being Compared to Vi Ripken's Kidnapping?
