Ransom Note Demands Millions in Bitcoin for Missing Today Show Host's Mother

Alleged Ransom Note Surfaces in Kidnapping Investigation

A ransom note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin has surfaced in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie. TMZ reported receiving an unverified ransom note from the culprit or culprits who kidnapped NBC star Savannah Guthrie's mother on Tuesday, demanding a large amount of money to be paid in bitcoin .

The note contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night , according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, though he would not confirm the accuracy of that information or the legitimacy of the note. The note demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin in the millions and requires the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address .

The FBI reviewed the note and made the decision to share it with Savannah Guthrie, though authorities had hoped to keep the information from becoming public before it was obtained by TMZ . Investigators have analyzed the note and are taking it seriously .

The Disappearance Timeline

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 at her home outside Tucson and was reported missing at noon on Feb. 1 by her family . Her family reported her missing after she did not show up for church . Law enforcement believes she was taken out of the home against her will .

According to the Associated Press, investigators found signs of forced entry at the home . A little bit of blood was found inside Nancy Guthrie's Tucson home , and her home is now an active crime scene . The sheriff has said Guthrie could not have wandered away from her home because she has no cognitive issues and very limited mobility, and expressed concern that she needs access to medication that she must take daily .

The FBI is assisting on the case by downloading and analyzing cell phone data and cell phone tower information, conducting interviews and providing investigative support . Surveillance video from a home security system has yielded nothing so far, and investigators believe the system may have been set to automatically delete footage after a short period of time .

Family's Public Plea

Savannah Guthrie has left New York where she co-anchors Today and went to Arizona as the investigation continues . In her first statement since her mother was reported missing, Savannah Guthrie said, "Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment" .

Savannah Guthrie was 16 when their father died, and Nancy raised them on her own . "She has met unthinkable challenges in her life with grit, without self-pity, with determination and always, always with unshakeable faith," Savannah said on the show in 2022 on Nancy Guthrie's 80th birthday .

A motive for Nancy Guthrie's possible abduction remains unclear, and authorities don't know whether she was targeted. When asked if Savannah Guthrie has received any threats herself, Sheriff Nanos replied that her security team is in touch with the sheriff's department but they don't know of anything like that immediately .

Investigation Continues

Sheriff Nanos called the search for Nancy Guthrie "a race against time" and said he hopes "that window hasn't closed" as the investigation entered the third day since her disappearance . The sheriff expressed particular concern about Nancy's daily medications, stating "You've placed her in great jeopardy without giving her meds that are critical to her. Again, like I've said, could be fatal if she doesn't get those meds" .

DNA samples taken from Nancy Guthrie's home have not resulted in anything indicating the suspect . While authorities have declared Nancy's Arizona home a crime scene, they believe there isn't any indication that the public is in danger .

The investigation represents a parent's worst nightmare made public, with law enforcement agencies coordinating resources while a family waits for answers. As the search continues, the community's response will likely prove crucial in determining whether this story ends with a safe return or becomes another tragic reminder of how quickly life can change.