According to the same reporting, the authors of the note claimed they did not intend for her to die, insisting she passed away shortly after being taken hostage.
“Investigators believed they are legitimate communications from the kidnappers,” CNN reported, while also noting that numerous ransom notes from different individuals had been sent to various media outlets, further complicating the investigation.
The case has drawn national attention, fueled by a timeline that authorities and media outlets have pieced together over the past several months.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31, when she was dropped off at her residence in Tucson by her son-in-law. Just hours later, in the early morning of February 1, a doorbell camera reportedly captured a masked individual outside her home—an image that quickly became a key focus of investigators.
Shortly after that sighting, her implanted pacemaker monitoring system stopped transmitting signals, raising immediate concerns about her wellbeing. The following morning, when she failed to attend church services, a parishioner alerted her family. Relatives later arrived at her home and discovered she was missing, prompting an immediate call to law enforcement.
Search efforts escalated rapidly, involving local authorities, federal agents, and volunteers who combed the surrounding area for any sign of her whereabouts. Despite extensive operations, few concrete leads have been publicly confirmed.
It remains unclear exactly when the ransom emails were received, but both CNN and a local television station reportedly obtained copies of the second note alleging that Nancy Guthrie had died while in captivity. However, law enforcement officials requested that neither outlet publish the contents or specific details of the messages, a request both organizations agreed to honor.
In a particularly emotional moment tied to the case, the Guthrie family released a cryptic video on February 7 featuring Savannah Guthrie. In it, she stated, “We received your message, and we understand.” CNN’s reporting suggested the message may have come after the family received the second ransom note alleging Nancy Guthrie’s death.
Former FBI hostage negotiator Chip Massey also weighed in on the significance of the communications, telling CNN’s Erin Burnett that the note represented “a juncture” that could “give this family final relief.”
Meanwhile, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department—one of the lead agencies handling the disappearance investigation—has declined to comment on the specific contents of the ransom notes. Officials instead emphasized that the case remains “active and ongoing.” Any additional inquiries regarding the communications have been referred to the FBI.
The FBI Phoenix office has not issued further comment on the matter, leaving many questions unanswered as investigators continue to piece together what happened in the critical hours after Nancy Guthrie vanished.
As the investigation moves forward, the conflicting ransom messages, limited official disclosures, and haunting timeline continue to deepen public interest in a case that has already gripped national attention for months.
