The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's "TODAY" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, took a troubling turn after authorities disclosed that a second note sent to the family claimed the 78-year-old Arizona woman had died following her kidnapping.
Law enforcement officials now believe two separate messages received by the family in the days after the abduction originated from the person or people responsible for the crime, according to reporting by CBS News and NBC News. The communications have become a central focus of an investigation that has drawn national attention since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home earlier this year.
The first note arrived on Feb. 2, one day after Guthrie was reported missing. Investigators said the message contained detailed references to her residence and demanded ransom payments in Bitcoin, suggesting the sender possessed firsthand knowledge of the kidnapping. The second note, delivered four days later on Feb. 6, conveyed a far darker message, informing the family that Guthrie had allegedly died and expressing regret over her death.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether Nancy Guthrie is alive or dead, and investigators continue to treat the case as an active missing-person and kidnapping investigation. The contents of the second note have added urgency to efforts by federal and local authorities to identify those responsible and determine Guthrie's whereabouts.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31 at her Tucson residence. Investigators later obtained doorbell camera footage that appeared to show an armed, masked intruder entering the property. The video quickly became a critical piece of evidence in the case.
According to information previously released by the FBI, Guthrie faced several health challenges that heightened concerns about her safety. Officials noted that she had difficulty walking, relied on a pacemaker and required daily medication to manage a heart condition. Those circumstances intensified fears among relatives and investigators as the search entered its fifth month.
The Guthrie family publicly acknowledged receiving the messages while continuing to appeal for Nancy Guthrie's safe return. In an Instagram video released after the second note arrived, Savannah Guthrie addressed the individuals responsible directly.
"We received your message and we understand," Savannah Guthrie said.
Seated alongside her siblings, Camron and Annie, she continued the family's appeal: "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."
At the time, Savannah Guthrie did not disclose the contents of the second communication. The revelation that it allegedly reported her mother's death only became public later as investigators provided additional details about the case.
The veteran broadcaster has continued to use her national platform to seek information. During appearances on NBC's "TODAY," she described the emotional toll the disappearance has taken on the family.
"We need your help," she said. "We are begging for your help."
She also told viewers that her family lives in "agony" and that they "cannot be at peace" while uncertainty about Nancy Guthrie's fate persists.
Federal investigators have released a description of the individual seen in surveillance footage. According to the FBI, the suspect appeared to be a man of average build standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10. The individual was reportedly carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack 25-liter backpack and was dressed in dark clothing at the time of the incident.
The investigation now centers on several unanswered questions: whether the claims contained in the second note are truthful, whether multiple individuals participated in the kidnapping, and whether forensic evidence from the messages can help identify those responsible. Authorities have not disclosed whether the notes contained fingerprints, DNA evidence or digital clues that could advance the case.
