"Your mother is buried in nature, we are sorry": Ransom letters sent to news anchor revealed
Six months after the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, Arizona police have released the full text of the ransom letters. The kidnappers, who demanded millions, later claimed the 84-year-old had died. The TV star is pleading for information on her mother's location.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department in Arizona has released the full transcript of two ransom letters sent by the kidnappers of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of senior anchor Savannah Guthrie, host of the popular morning show "Today" on NBC.
The publication of the letters, six months after the disappearance, is intended to elicit new information from the public to assist in capturing the suspects. While the letters were previously shared with media outlets, this is the first time their full content has been made public.
"The authorities will not help you"
The first letter was sent on February 2, the day after 84-year-old Guthrie was reported missing. The kidnappers issued an ultimatum: a payment of $4 million in Bitcoin within three days.
"If you miss the payment deadline, the ransom will increase to $6 million," the kidnappers threatened, warning that if the demands were not met, "she will be killed."
The message further stated: "Your mother is aware of the situation and her life is in your hands. There will be no negotiations. Do not play games, law enforcement authorities will not be able to help you." To prove their involvement, the kidnappers provided specific details from the crime scene, noting that Guthrie's wristwatch was left on the floor at the foot of her bed and that the backyard floodlight had been destroyed.
"We did not understand the severity of her condition"
A tragic turn occurred on February 6, when a second letter was received, addressed to the "Guthrie family," containing difficult news and a bizarre apology:
"We did not fully understand the severity of her physical condition. She passed away shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart-related. She is buried in nature now. We wanted your family to know this and hope you can find peace. We are truly sorry."
Savannah Guthrie, who has posted several emotional appeals on social media, pleaded again: "Do the right thing, just tell us where to look for her."
Nancy Guthrie, who suffered from poor health, was last seen alive on January 31 at her home in Tucson. Family members found the house empty, with her essential belongings—purse, mobile phone, hearing aids, and medications—left behind. Bloodstains were found on the front porch, which DNA tests later confirmed belonged to her.
On February 10, the FBI released footage from a home security camera showing an armed figure in a ski mask sabotaging the camera. The suspect's identity remains a mystery, but the sheriff's office emphasized that the individual in the video "knows what happened to Nancy."
Police hope that releasing the full transcript will assist the investigation. "The letters reveal unique patterns of word choice and syntax that someone close to the author might recognize," officials stated, calling on the public to report any sudden changes in behavior or appearance of individuals around the time of the kidnapping.
