It’s nearly been five months since Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, went missing from her home in Arizona.
The ongoing search has resulted in no arrests and her whereabouts remain unknown.
However, new information being reported by US media claims that a second ransom note was sent days after her disappearance which disclosed she died shortly after the kidnapping.
Reportedly, the abductors didn’t mean for this to happen.
CNN says multiple law enforcement sources briefed on the investigation shared this information with the publication.
It also claims that along with a Tucson, Arizona television station’s local news department, it received both notes.
Both outlets agreed to a request from the Guthrie family and law enforcement to hold back reporting on the content of the notes so that future communications with the kidnapper or kidnappers could be authenticated.
Metro has contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Phoenix FBI for comment.
When was Nancy Guthrie kidnapped?
Nancy is believed to have been taken against her will from her home in the wealthy area of Catalina Foothills outside Tucson, Arizona.
Doorbell footage released by the FBI from the early hours of February 1 showed a masked individual carrying a backpack approaching Nancy’s porch.
At 1.47am, the camera was disconnected.
The next morning, Nancy didn’t show up at a friend’s house for church. Her family were alerted, and shortly after, she was reported to the police as missing.
She was last seen by a family member the evening before, with whom she had been having dinner.
They dropped her off at her house at around 9.45pm on the Saturday evening, and didn’t see her again.
Do we know why?
Aside from the reported initial ransom note demanding millions in bitcoin, we don’t know why Nancy Guthrie was abducted.
In March, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is investigating, said authorities believed they knew the motive.
In an interview with NBC News, Nanos said: ‘We believe that it was targeted, but we’re not 100% sure of that.’
During an emotional chat with Today’s Hoda Kotb, Savannah recalled a phone call with her brother where she asked him: ‘”Do you think it’s because of me?”‘
She says he replied: ‘”Well, I’m sorry sweetie, but yeah, maybe.”‘
Has anyone been arrested?
So far, nobody has been arrested following the disappearance of Nancy.
In February, a man spoke to reporters after being taken into custody and detained, before being released.
He claims he wasn’t asked any questions.
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Another man, called Luke Daley, also talked in an interview with True Crime Arizona host Briana Whitney about being detained in February, and said he had ‘nothing to do with this case’.
His attorney confirmed to People that Daley and his mother were both detained by law enforcement while search warrants were being executed on their property.
They were held for four hours and released with no charges, according to the publication.
What did the ransom notes say?
Contrary to some reports, NBC claims there was no apology or request for payment for Nancy’s body in the second, newly reported ransom note.
However, Airmail says there was a ‘sputtering and laboured ‘apology’.
The publication also claimed that it was stated that there was a possibility her body could be delivered for a sum of money.
NBC reported that the first ransom note requested cryptocurrency for her release, and it was claimed she was safe.
CBS says according to investigators, the first note included very specific details about Nancy’s home, including that her back porch light was broken and an Apple Watch with a white strap was on the floor of her bedroom.
It also reports that authorities believe both notes were likely sent by the same group of people or the person who abducted the 84-year-old.
The outlet also says that, according to investigators, both notes were likely sent from the same computer IP address.
What happens next?
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told Metro: ‘The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case.’
It advised directing any inquiries concerning the ransom notes to the FBI.