The first ransom note allegedly sent to Savannah Guthrie after her mother’s disappearance has now been revealed, offering the clearest look yet at the chilling demands investigators have spent months examining.
According to crime journalist Briana Whitney, who shared the details during an appearance on the “Crime Junkie” podcast, the message claimed Nancy Guthrie was alive but terrified, demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin, and warned the “Today” co-anchor that her mother’s fate rested entirely in her hands.
The First Message To Savannah Guthrie Contained A Chilling Warning
Speaking with “Crime Junkie” host Ashley Flowers, Whitney read what she described as the first ransom note sent following Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
“Hello, Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy,” the note reportedly began per PEOPLE.
According to Whitney, the message attempted to reassure the NBC star that her mother was still alive while making it clear that her safety depended on meeting the kidnappers’ demands.
“She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received, she will be released unharmed. We will be holding her for a maximum of seven days,” Whitney read.
The Ransom Note Allegedly Demanded Millions In Bitcoin
Whitney explained that the note outlined two separate payment deadlines tied to escalating ransom demands.
Previous reports indicated the first payment required $4 million in bitcoin, with a later deadline increasing the amount to $6 million if the initial demand was not met.
The note allegedly promised Nancy Guthrie would be released shortly after payment.
“Once payment is received to the Bitcoin address below, she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a safe drop off location back in Tucson,” Whitney said while reading the message.
The most chilling portion of the note came with its final warning.
“If the payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m., she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out. There will be no negotiation. Do not play games. Law enforcement will not be able to help you.”
The threatening language mirrors tactics often associated with extortion attempts, in which alleged kidnappers try to isolate victims’ families from investigators by discouraging police involvement.
Details Inside The Note Raised Questions For Investigators
4Beyond the ransom demand itself, the note reportedly included details that investigators considered significant.
Whitney said the sender referenced specific items inside and around Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, details that were not widely known publicly.
According to the journalist, the note mentioned that a white smartwatch had been left on the floor near Nancy’s bed.
It also reportedly referred to a floodlight in the backyard that had been destroyed.
Whitney noted that federal investigators continue examining the note as a potentially legitimate piece of evidence rather than dismissing it outright.
Nancy Guthrie Has Been Missing Since January
4Nancy Guthrie disappeared on Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day.
Authorities believe she was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona, during the early morning hours.
Investigators previously released surveillance footage showing a masked individual near the residence. According to law enforcement, the person appeared to tamper with the home’s doorbell camera before Nancy vanished.
The disappearance quickly became one of the year’s most closely watched missing-person investigations because of Savannah Guthrie’s public profile and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the case.
Federal, state, and local authorities have continued working together as the investigation remains active.
Savannah Guthrie Previously Received Another Chilling Message
4The emotional toll of the case has also played out publicly. Following her mother’s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie stepped away from her hosting duties on NBC’s “Today” for more than two months before returning to the morning show in April.
Even after returning to television, questions surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance have continued, with investigators releasing only limited information while pursuing leads.
The newly disclosed contents of the first ransom note also shed new light on another disturbing communication investigators have been examining for months.
According to NBC News, a second message sent several days after the initial ransom demand claimed Nancy had died shortly after the kidnapping.
Unlike the first note, which demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin in exchange for her release, the later communication reportedly contained no additional ransom demand and no request for payment to recover her body.
People familiar with the investigation have said authorities believe the two notes may have come from the same sender, though the FBI has cautioned that investigators continue evaluating which communications connected to the case are genuine and which are attempts to exploit the high-profile disappearance.
