A second message reportedly sent days after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, allegedly claimed that she had died shortly after being abducted, according to multiple reports.
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Unlike the first message, which demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy’s safe return, the second note reportedly contained no ransom demand and made no request for payment to recover her body. The full contents of the message have never been publicly released.
According to NBC News, the note simply claimed that Nancy had died, though authorities have never confirmed whether that statement was true. Tucson television station KOLD News 13, which reported receiving both messages, said the complete contents were withheld out of respect for the Guthrie family and the ongoing investigation.
Investigators reportedly believe the first and second messages were likely sent by the same person or group. Although the notes did not originate from the same IP address, both allegedly used the same type of secure server designed to conceal the sender’s location.
Authorities first publicly acknowledged the existence of the second message on Feb. 6. At the time, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed they were aware of the communication and were working to determine whether it was authentic.
The following day, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, released an emotional video message directed at whoever might be holding their mother.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Nancy was last seen at her Tucson, Arizona, home on the evening of Jan. 31 before being reported missing the following day after failing to attend a virtual church service.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has repeatedly stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing, with detectives continuing to work alongside the FBI to review evidence, follow new leads, and determine what happened to Nancy. At the time of the report, the FBI declined to comment on the reported second ransom note.
