In brief
Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home on 31 January and a ransom note demanding millions in bitcoin appeared the next day. A second note sent two weeks later claims that she died, but also apologises for the mistake. Police, FBI and community continue to search, offering rewards and filming masked individuals in the area. Savannah Guthrie holds out hope, returning to the NBC Today show as the matter remains under investigation.
On 31 January, 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie vanished after being dropped off at her Tucson, Arizona home by relatives.
Police and family began searching that morning when Nancy failed to attend a virtual Sunday church service the next day. The first ransom note arrived the following day, demanding millions in bitcoin and detailing her home layout.
A second note appeared on 6 February. While it did not contain any ransom demands, it stated that she had died and apologized, claiming the death was accidental. Authorities have identified the notes as authentic, but investigators believe some may be bogus.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department, working closely with the FBI, has continued to investigate the case. Over the weeks, they have released images of a masked individual seen on security footage near Nancy’s home. The family has offered a $1 million ($760 thousand pounds) reward, with an additional $100 thousand pledged by the FBI, for information leading to her return.
During the ongoing search, Savannah Guthrie stepped away from the NBC Today show but returned in early April. The family remains hopeful, though the search extends into March with no outcome yet. Authorities urge the public to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity in the area.
For more details, see the BBC’s report: BBC News or the official statements: Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
