Chris Nanos, the sheriff in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, has released a pair of ransom notes initially sent to the CBS affiliate in her home city of Tucson, Arizona. The second of the two notes states that Nancy has “perished.”
The notes “purport to have been written by kidnappers,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a press release timed to the six-month anniversary of Nancy’s disappearance. The first note was sent to KOLD-TV 13 News on Feb. 2; Nancy was last seen alive on Jan. 31.
Addressed directly to Savannah Guthrie, the first ransom note demands $4-$6 million (depending on date of deposit) in Bitcoin for her safe release. It says Nancy is “safe but scared.”
“Her life is in your hands,” the first note states. The note’s final line offers two details as proof of its legitimacy: “She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in the backyard was destroyed.”
Nancy Guthrie is the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She was 84 years old at the time of her disappearance.
On Feb. 6, a second email sent to the same news outlet’s Tips line states that Nancy has died and “is buried in nature.” The initial deadline for the ransom deposit ($4 million) was Feb. 5; the second deadline ($6 million) was Feb. 9.
The second note reads, in full: “Guthrie Family, We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you can all find peace. We are truly sorry.”
Nancy had a serious heart condition and was without her medication. The ransom notes are posted below.
The first Nancy Guthrie ransom note.
Pima County Sheriff’s Office
The second Nancy Guthrie ransom note.
Pima County Sheriff’s Office
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says it is sharing the ransom notes now for the first time publicly in hopes that someone in the public recognizes “distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style.”
“They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time,” the press release continues. “As with the unidentified male depicted in the video, we believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes’ writer. A friend, family member, coworker, classmate, or acquaintance may recognize these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible.”
Doorbell videos of the suspected kidnapper were released to the public on Feb. 10.
