Authorities in Arizona are examining what they describe as a new, potentially genuine ransom note connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, as investigators search for a critical lead nearly eight months after the 84-year-old vanished.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has not said when the latest note was sent, who received it or what it contains. Officials indicated the development may be linked to discussion circulating on social media.
“The PCSD [Pima County Sheriff’s Department]/FBI Guthrie Task Force was recently made aware of a new possible ransom note related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation,” the department said in a statement posted to X on Monday.
“Investigators are also aware of social media comments regarding the note and are looking further into the information to determine its credibility,” the statement continued.
The FBI has not publicly addressed the possible new message. Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie’s daughter and a television personality, has also not commented on the report.
The development comes after two ransom letters were sent to Arizona television station KOLD-13 within days of Guthrie disappearing from her home in the Catalina Foothills.
Investigators have previously said they believe Guthrie was likely taken from her bed.
The first letter, received February 2, demanded $4 million in bitcoin and promised Guthrie would be returned unharmed if the money was paid by 5 p.m. on February 5.
The writer warned that the demand would rise to $6 million if the initial deadline was missed, with the larger payment due by 5 p.m. on Monday, February 9.
The letter claimed Guthrie would be released within 12 hours after the bitcoin payment reached the specified address and would be taken to a secure drop-off location in Tucson. It also threatened that she would be killed if the final deadline passed without payment.
“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” the message stated, while warning Guthrie’s family against “playing games.”
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A second letter arrived February 6 and carried a markedly different tone. It expressed regret while suggesting Guthrie might already have died.
“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” the writer said, appearing to reference Guthrie’s reported frailty.
The message added that the writers had not intended to harm her and claimed she died soon after being taken.
“We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now,” the letter said. “Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”
The identities of the people behind the two letters remain unknown. However, forensic psychologist Gary Brucato said in August that the messages appeared to have been written by different individuals.
Brucato characterized the ransom demand as the work of a more calculating writer, while describing the second letter as appearing to come from someone driven by emotion.
He also theorized that the person who wrote one of the messages may have had some connection to Savannah Guthrie.
The original letters were made public roughly six months into the investigation, but the case has yet to produce an arrest.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said he hoped releasing the letters would prompt someone in the community to come forward with information.
The Guthrie family are offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to the matriarch being recovered.
That reward remains active and the FBI is offering a $100,000 reward.
