Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of US television presenter Savannah Guthrie, may have died following her abduction earlier this year, according to investigators. A chilling ransom note sent to her family reportedly claimed she had passed away just days after she vanished from her home, adding a tragic new layer to an already mysterious case.

The note was one of two sent to the family and shared with news media in the weeks after the January kidnapping, deepening the anguish surrounding the search for the elderly woman.

Two Notes, Two Very Different Messages

According to sources cited by US media, the kidnappers sent two separate notes to Nancy Guthrie’s family. The messages told dramatically different stories.

The first note, delivered shortly after her disappearance, demanded millions in bitcoin in exchange for her safe release. The second, however, carried devastating news. It reportedly stated that Nancy had died and included an apology to the family, claiming her death was never intended.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to confirm the specific contents of the notes but emphasized that the case is far from closed.

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case,” a department spokesperson said, describing the investigation as active and ongoing.

The BBC has reached out to the FBI, which has spent months working alongside Pima County officials to unravel the circumstances of the abduction near Tucson, Arizona.

How the Disappearance Unfolded

Nancy Guthrie went missing on 31 January, shortly after relatives dropped her off at her home. Alarm bells rang the following morning when she failed to show up at a friend’s house to watch a virtual Sunday church service, something entirely out of character for her.

A ransom note arrived the very next day. It demanded millions in bitcoin and contained unsettling specifics that suggested the kidnappers had intimate knowledge of her surroundings. Investigators told CBS that the note described:

• Detailed information about her home
• Specific details about her bedroom
• Descriptions of the area surrounding the property

The note was reportedly addressed directly to Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, turning a private family tragedy into a national story.

The Second Note Brings Grim News

It has only recently come to light that a second note arrived on 6 February. While it used language strikingly similar to the first, it made no ransom demands. Instead, it offered an apology and claimed that Nancy had died unintentionally.

The shift from a demand for money to an admission of death left the family grappling with uncertainty and grief. Law enforcement reportedly asked media outlets to delay publishing details about the notes while the investigation moved forward, a request that has only now been lifted.

A Family’s Emotional Plea

After receiving the two notes, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings recorded a video directly addressed to the kidnappers, pleading for their mother’s return.

“We received your message, and we understand,” the NBC host said in the appeal. “We beg you now to return our mother to us.”

She made clear that the family was willing to cooperate, stating that they “would pay” for Nancy’s safe return.

Throughout the ordeal, both authorities and the family stressed that Nancy was in poor health and had been separated from critical medication she needed, heightening fears for her survival with each passing day.

The Search and the Reward

As the investigation intensified, authorities released security camera footage showing a masked individual lurking outside Nancy’s home. The images became a key part of the public appeal for information.

In an effort to generate leads, the Guthrie family offered a substantial reward. Combined with a pledge from the FBI, the total reached significant figures:

• $1 million (£760,000) offered by the Guthrie family
• $100,000 pledged by the FBI

Despite the resources poured into the search, answers remained elusive.

A Family Bracing for the Worst

The emotional toll on the family became increasingly visible over time. On 24 February, Savannah Guthrie acknowledged the painful possibility that her mother might not come home.

She said the family would keep hoping, even while accepting that Nancy “may be lost, she may already be gone.”

In a March interview with NBC, Guthrie revealed that several ransom notes had been sent during the ordeal. She believed some of them were fake, but the family considered the two initial notes to be authentic, the same notes now reported to contain claims of her mother’s death.

Stepping Away and Returning

The case took a heavy personal toll on Savannah Guthrie, who stepped away from the Today show for more than two months as the investigation unfolded. She returned to the programme in early April, even as the search for her mother continued without resolution.

What Comes Next

For now, the investigation remains open, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continuing to chase leads and verify information. The contents of the ransom notes, including the claim of Nancy’s death, have not been officially confirmed by authorities.

The case continues to grip the public, blending the very personal grief of a well-known television family with a baffling criminal mystery. As investigators press forward, the Guthrie family is left waiting for definitive answers about what truly happened to Nancy after she was taken from her home.