Police release ransom notes in Savannah Guthrie mother's kidnapping case

Police have released two redacted ransom notes in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, 84, hoping someone recognizes the writer and helps identify who took Savannah Guthrie’s mother from her Tucson-area home. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said public release could generate tips in a case that began when Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home on Feb. 1.

Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will between the evening of Jan. 31 and the morning of Feb. 1, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in February. One note demanded millions in bitcoin for her release. A second note later said she had died and included an apology from the possible kidnappers. The sheriff’s department released the notes with redactions, making the documents visible while withholding material that could interfere with the investigation.

The move is a controlled disclosure, giving the public a chance to compare the text against names, threats or other details they may recognize while investigators keep the rest of the file sealed. The FBI has continued to sort through the material, with some of the ransom notes treated as legitimate and others dismissed as extortion. By June 22, investigators were still seeking tips and had obtained video of an apparent suspect, evidence that the case had produced leads but no resolution.

Savannah Guthrie has publicly asked for help finding her mother and has urged anyone with information to come forward. The latest release puts the ransom notes in front of a wider pool of eyes, and investigators are betting that six months after the kidnapping, a small detail in the wording or timing could jog someone’s memory in Tucson or elsewhere in Pima County.