Authorities told ABC News that the public release of two credible ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie’s family in the days following her abduction has led to a “slight increase” in tips, though none has yet produced a breakthrough in the investigation.
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, during the early morning hours of Feb. 1 and is still missing.
RELATED: Nancy Guthrie abduction: The full timeline
On Friday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department released new information about two ransom notes that were sent to Tucson media outlets shortly after the abduction.
The first note, addressed to Savannah Guthrie on Feb. 2, stated, “We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared.” It demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and warned that “she will be killed” if the payment was not made.
Investigators said the message also referenced details from the home, including a smartwatch near Guthrie’s bed and a damaged floodlight in the backyard.
A second note, sent to the Guthrie family on Feb. 6, claimed Nancy Guthrie had died and “is buried in nature now,” according to the sheriff’s department.
“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” the note said. “We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken.”
The note included an apology and said to the family, “Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace.”
In response to an inquiry from ABC News, the sheriff’s department said Tuesday that “investigators have seen a slight increase in tips since the two ransom notes were released,” adding that “all tips have been followed up on.”
Savannah Guthrie again pleaded for help in an Instagram post Saturday, writing, “We need someone to come forward.”
“Someone knows something. Someone suspects something,” the journalist said. “Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes. Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual — perhaps with someone they deeply love. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward.”
“We are real people, facing real grief,” she said, adding, “We will never stop looking for answers.”
Anyone with information is urged to call 911, the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
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