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Authorities Release Full Ransom Notes in Search for Nancy Guthrie

Investigators are asking the public to study distinctive wording so someone who knows the writer will come forward.

Overview

  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her Catalina Foothills home on Feb. 1, 2026 and was missing her phone and essential medications when she disappeared.
  • Police published the Feb. 2 ransom note that demanded $4 million in bitcoin and a Feb. 6 follow-up that claimed she had died, saying the two notes show distinctive word choice and syntax.
  • The FBI has released doorbell camera video showing a masked person at Guthrie’s front door the morning she disappeared, while hair and DNA testing so far have not identified a suspect.
  • Savannah Guthrie renewed public pleas on social media and criticized those treating the case as entertainment; the family is offering a reward and volunteer searches in Mexico produced no leads.
  • Investigators are asking neighbors to report small behavioral clues—sudden travel, changes in appearance or mood, unexplained injuries, vehicle cleaning, or recognition of the notes’ writing—as a way to turn linguistic analysis into actionable tips.