Nancy Guthrie ransom notes released by sheriff’s department 6 months after her kidnapping

The ransom notes that appear to have been sent by Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper to a local news outlet shortly after her disappearance were made public Friday by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. 

The first message was addressed Guthrie’s daughter, “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, and was sent to the tip line for CBS affiliate KOLD-TV in Tucson on Feb. 2. It reads:

Hello Savannah,
We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed. We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days. You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USO before 5PM on Thursday the 5th. If payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to 6 million USO which will need to be paid by 5PM on Monday the 9th. Once payment is received to the bitcoin address below she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not recieved by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5PM, she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.

She had a white smart watch on the floor of the foot of her bed and the white flood light in backyard was destroyed.        

The second note, which was sent to the station on Feb. 6, was addressed to the Guthrie family and says that Nancy Guthrie “perished shortly after she was taken.”

Guthrie Family,
We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. 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 sheriff’s department said it was releasing the notes because they revealed “distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style” and provide “valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time.” 

The department said it hoped the “distinctive linguistic characteristics” might be familiar to a member of the public, and asked that anyone who recognizes the writing style come forward with information.

This is a developing story and will be updated.