The mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie took a dramatic turn on Monday when TMZ received two new ransom notes claiming knowledge of the 84-year-old woman’s location and the identity of her kidnapper, just as her daughter Savannah Guthrie made an emotional return to the “Today” show after a two-month absence.
The notes, sent April 6, 2026, mark the latest development in a case that has gripped the nation since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1, 2026. The sender demanded half a bitcoin in exchange for information about where Nancy’s body is located and who took her, with the second half to be paid after a public arrest is made.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin revealed on Monday that the outlet received communications from someone who has contacted them “incessantly” throughout the investigation, claiming to know who kidnapped Nancy and where she is located.
The first note claimed Nancy Guthrie is no longer alive, while a contradictory second message stated the sender saw her alive with her alleged kidnappers in the Mexican state of Sonora. TMZ confirmed it forwarded both communications to the FBI.
The ransom sender expressed frustration at being dismissed by authorities, criticizing the FBI for wasting “millions” on the search while refusing to pay for information and accusing the bureau of arrogance for disregarding the communications as a scam.
The timing of the notes coincided with Savannah Guthrie’s return to the “Today” show anchor desk after her extended absence. “Here we go, ready or not,” she told viewers at the top of Monday’s broadcast. “Let’s do the news.”
The veteran broadcaster had been off the air since her mother’s disappearance, returning only for a three-part interview with former co-anchor Hoda Kotb that aired on March 26 and 27. During that emotional sit-down, Savannah revealed she believes two of the ransom notes her family received were genuine, while dismissing most others as opportunistic fakes from people who “really have to look deeply at themselves.”
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in the dead of night, taken from her home in her pajamas without shoes or medication. Her sister Annie called Savannah after Nancy failed to show up for a virtual church service. The family initially thought she might have had a medical emergency, but the discovery of blood spatters on Nancy’s porch and her doorbell camera ripped from the wall pointed to something far more sinister.
Surveillance footage released by authorities shows a masked man loitering on Nancy’s doorstep the evening she vanished. The FBI described the suspect as standing between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall with an average build, wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
The investigation has now entered its third month, with the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department pursuing thousands of tips from the public. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information, while 88-CRIME has put up $102,500 and the Guthrie family is offering $1,000,000 for leads that bring Nancy home safely.
Former FBI supervisory special agent Andrew Bringuel questioned why authorities have not released the ransom communications to the public. “I am curious why the police have not released the communications between the ‘subject(s)’ and the media/police,” Bringuel told Newsweek. “This may be to protect the integrity of the case, it may be because they do not believe they are legitimate, it may be to protect the victim, or some other strategic reason.”
Bringuel noted that these cases are typically solved when suspects make mistakes or when cooperating witnesses step forward, calling tips from the public “a force multiplier” for investigators.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos continues to lead the investigation, which has seen various ransom demands flood in since Nancy’s disappearance. One early demand sought millions in bitcoin and claimed Nancy was “safe but scared.” The Guthrie family responded by releasing recorded video messages on social media, pleading for proof of life and their mother’s safe return.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or 88-CRIME. The FBI continues to pursue all leads as the search for Nancy Guthrie intensifies.
