Details on the Nancy Guthrie 'Ransom Demands' Received by THREE Separate News Organizations
- 17GEN4
- Feb 4
- 4 min read
Multiple news sources have reported on purported ransom notes related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her Tucson, Arizona, home on January 31, 2026.
Authorities, including the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) and the FBI, are investigating the notes' authenticity but have not confirmed their legitimacy. The notes were sent to media outlets rather than directly to the family, and no full text of any note has been publicly released or published by the recipients, likely to avoid compromising the investigation. Details remain vague in most reports, with sources citing law enforcement's request to withhold specifics.
At least three similar notes have been reported, received by TMZ, KOLD News 13 (a CBS affiliate), and KGUN 9 (a Scripps News affiliate, also known as ABC 9 in Tucson). The notes share common elements, such as demands for cryptocurrency payments and references to non-public details about the crime scene. Below is a compilation of all publicly disclosed details from credible news sources, organized by key aspects, with direct links to the reporting and citations.
How the Notes Were Received
TMZ Note: Received via an unspecified method (likely email) on the morning of February 3, 2026. TMZ forwarded it to the PCSD after reporting on it, despite authorities' preference to keep such information private. (https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/03/nancy-guthrie-alleged-ransom-note-bitcoin-millions/)
KOLD News 13 Note: Received via email on Monday night, February 2, 2026. The station agreed not to broadcast details initially at the request of investigators but later confirmed receipt and forwarded it to the PCSD.
(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/savannah-guthrie-mother-nancy-guthrie-ransom-note/; https://www.kold.com/2026/02/03/we-gotta-find-her-dna-samples-taken-nancy-guthries-home-belong-her-pcsd-says/; https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/)
KGUN 9 Note: Received via an unspecified method (likely email) around the same time as the others (early February 2026). The station forwarded the full contents to investigators and authorities but did not publish it. This note was discussed on Court TV and in a screenshot shared on X (formerly Twitter), confirming its details. (https://www.kgun9.com/us-news/crime/please-pray-savannah-guthrie-releases-first-statement-since-mom-went-missing; X post ID: 2019134666826211819 showing Court TV/Scripps News segment: https://x.com/har286251/status/2019134666826211819)
General: All notes were sent to media outlets, and the PCSD issued a statement on February 3 acknowledging "reports circulating about possible ransom note(s)" and emphasizing they take all leads seriously, coordinating with the FBI. (https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-claim-prompts-sheriff-release-statement; https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/us/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-investigation-wednesday/)
Demands
Amount and Currency: "Millions" or "several million dollars" to be paid in Bitcoin. A specific Bitcoin address was provided in at least the TMZ note, which the outlet verified as real (no address published). The KGUN note specified "several million dollars in Bitcoin." No exact dollar figure (e.g., $5 million) has been disclosed. (https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/03/nancy-guthrie-alleged-ransom-note-bitcoin-millions/; https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/; https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/us/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-investigation-wednesday/; X post with Court TV screenshot: https://x.com/har286251/status/2019134666826211819)
Threats
Implied or explicit harm if payment is not made: Described as including an "or else" clause, implying something sinister would happen to Nancy. The KGUN note specifically "threatens to kill her" if payment is not received.
(https://www.tmz.com/2026/02/03/nancy-guthrie-alleged-ransom-note-bitcoin-millions/; https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/; X post with Court TV screenshot: https://x.com/har286251/status/2019134666826211819; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqyIwVZ9W_E)
Deadlines
A deadline was included in the notes, but specifics vary or are not fully detailed. The TMZ and KOLD notes mention a general deadline for payment. The KGUN note specifies payment "by Thursday" (likely February 5, 2026, as reports emerged on February 3-4), with the threat tied to non-payment "by Monday" (possibly a reporting inconsistency, as Monday was February 2; it may refer to a prior or erroneous date). Another source notes a "deadline for the ransom payment in Bitcoin."
(https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/; X post with Court TV screenshot: https://x.com/har286251/status/2019134666826211819; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqyIwVZ9W_E; https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-claim-prompts-sheriff-release-statement)
Specific Details Mentioned
References to non-public information: The KOLD note included "specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night." Similar notes described "specific evidence in Guthrie’s home" or "damage caused to Nancy's home." The KGUN note made "specific reference to two pieces of evidence at the crime scene" (not authenticated or detailed publicly, possibly related to blood drops or the ripped Ring camera). These are cited as potential proof of legitimacy, as they may only be known to abductors. Sheriff Chris Nanos declined to confirm if they match the crime scene.
(https://www.cbsnews.com/news/savannah-guthrie-mother-nancy-guthrie-ransom-note/; https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/; https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/us/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-investigation-wednesday/; X post with Court TV screenshot: https://x.com/har286251/status/2019134666826211819; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdGlES5D9mE)
Other Specifics and Investigation Notes
Sharing with Family: The FBI analyzed at least one note (KOLD's) and decided to share it with Savannah Guthrie. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/savannah-guthrie-mother-nancy-guthrie-ransom-note/; https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/us/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-investigation-wednesday/)
Authenticity and Response: PCSD Sheriff Chris Nanos stated the notes are being taken seriously as leads, with FBI assistance in vetting. He described one as containing details "perhaps only the abductor would know." No suspects identified as of February 4, 2026. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdGlES5D9mE; https://www.cbsnews.com/news/savannah-guthrie-mother-nancy-guthrie-ransom-note/; https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2026/02/04/nancy-guthrie-ransom-note-tmz-cbs-kold/88505697007/)
No Quoted Text: No source has released direct quotes from the notes; all descriptions are paraphrased. Full notes remain unpublished. (Across all cited sources.)
These details represent the extent of public disclosures as of 3:30PM EST February 4, 2026. The case remains active, with ongoing forensic analysis and public tips encouraged via the PCSD.
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