Guthrie Ransom Deadlines.
FBI probes new Nancy Guthrie ransom notes detailing Bitcoin demands and escalating deadlines.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
A second ransom note dated February 6 claimed Nancy Guthrie had died and stated the death was not intentional.
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The ransom demands included specific Bitcoin amounts: $4 million by February 5, rising to $6 million by February 9, with a promise to release Guthrie within 12 hours after payment.
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Investigators determined the first two ransom notes appeared to originate from the same computer IP address, suggesting they were issued by the same actor.
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A third ransom note was reportedly sent to TMZ in late June, with Reuters later mentioned by outlets as noting not all notes were genuine.
Six months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home, explosive new details from the ransom notes sent to her family have emerged. A former Arizona reporter, Briana Whitney, read the contents aloud on the Crime Junkie podcast, revealing two escalating deadlines and Bitcoin demands reaching $6 million. Fox News reported the notes warned, "Her life is in your hands."
The FBI and local investigators are still searching for Nancy, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie. Authorities have not publicly named a suspect. Rewards have been offered by both the Guthrie family and the FBI.
Deadlines Escalated From $4 Million to $6 Million
The first ransom note demanded $4 million in Bitcoin by February 5. If the family missed that deadline, the price jumped to $6 million by February 9. The notes promised Nancy would be released within 12 hours of payment. According to Fox News, the notes also warned that failure to pay would result in her death.
Then, on February 6 — one day after the first deadline — a second note arrived. It claimed Nancy had already died. The note said the death was "not intentional." Hello Magazine reported that the early notes included a direct warning to Savannah Guthrie herself, raising the alarm in the days right after Nancy went missing.
Home Details Used to Test Note Credibility
The notes contained specific details about Nancy Guthrie's home. They described a white smart watch on the floor near her bed. They also mentioned a destroyed floodlight in the backyard. Investigators used these details to judge whether the notes came from someone who had actually been inside the home.
In Touch Weekly reported that the first note said Nancy was "safe but scared." That message was sent to the Guthrie family and a select group of others. The specific home details gave the note an air of credibility that kept investigators from dismissing it outright.
FBI Says Some Notes Were Extortion, Not Genuine
Not all of the notes are considered real. FBI officials said some of the messages were extortion attempts — meaning people tried to exploit the case for money without actually having Nancy. Investigators found that the first two notes appeared to come from the same computer IP address, suggesting one actor sent both.
A third note was reportedly sent to TMZ in late June. Fox News noted that authorities have not ruled out the possibility that at least some notes could be legitimate. The FBI continues to evaluate each message. No arrests have been announced.
Investigation Continues With Rewards Still on the Table
The case is now six months old with no public resolution. Federal and local investigators are both still active on the case. The Guthrie family has offered a reward for information. The FBI has added its own reward on top of that. The combined offers are meant to encourage anyone with tips to come forward.
Head Top Topics reported that the first ransom note stated Nancy would be held for "a maximum of seven" days — a detail that made the early timeline feel urgent. Despite that pressure, months have passed with no confirmed sighting of Nancy and no suspect named publicly.
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