A newly reported ransom message connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie allegedly included an apology for her death and marked a significant turning point in the investigation into the missing Arizona woman, as reported by the New York Post.
According to a report from Air Mail, one of several messages sent to Guthrie’s family and media outlets after her disappearance claimed that the 84-year-old had died accidentally after being abducted from her Tucson home.
Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since Feb. 1.

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Investigators believe she was kidnapped from her residence, and authorities have spent months pursuing leads while reviewing numerous communications claiming knowledge of her whereabouts.
The report states that a Feb. 6 email sent to TMZ originated from the same IP address as previous ransom and blackmail messages that investigators considered potentially credible.
Sources familiar with the case told Air Mail that earlier communications contained detailed information about the night Guthrie disappeared, including descriptions of what she was wearing when she was allegedly taken from her home.
One message sent on Feb. 2 reportedly demanded $4 million in bitcoin and described Guthrie as “safe but scared.”
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The note also outlined terms for a potential exchange, leading investigators to believe the communication may have come from individuals with direct knowledge of the case rather than internet hoaxers.
However, according to the report, a second message sent four days later took a dramatically different tone.
Sources told the outlet that the Feb. 6 communication opened with a lengthy apology that claimed Guthrie had died accidentally.
The message allegedly went on to suggest that her body could be returned to the family in exchange for payment, though it did not specify a dollar amount.
The communication reportedly caused investigators to shift their focus from a kidnapping investigation toward a potential homicide case.
The report also indicates the message prompted a public response from Guthrie’s family.
The day after the note was received, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted a brief video message on Instagram.
In the video, they stated they had “received your message, and we understand.”
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Savannah Guthrie later issued a direct plea to the person responsible for her mother’s disappearance.
She asked that the individual “return our mother to us,” adding that her return is “very valuable to us” and that “we will pay.”
Since Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, investigators have reportedly received a large number of messages claiming to contain information about the case.
According to sources cited by Air Mail, authorities categorized the communications into three groups described as “the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
Messages containing information not publicly known about Guthrie were reportedly classified as “good,” while the communication discussing her alleged death was labeled “bad.”
Savannah Guthrie previously acknowledged during a “Today” interview that many of the messages received by her family were likely fraudulent.
Despite that assessment, she indicated that two specific communications appeared more credible than the others.
“I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real,” she said.
More than four months after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, investigators continue to pursue leads and examine evidence connected to the case.
Authorities have not announced any arrests, and no significant new breakthroughs have been publicly disclosed as the search and investigation remain ongoing.
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