Nancy Guthrie Investigation Misstep Revealed in New Report

A new report offers insight into the ransom notes received by police amid Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance — and an apparent major mistake made by investigators.

Air Mail published an in-depth look at the disappearance of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mom on Saturday, June 20. Two sources close to the investigation claimed that investigators first received a ransom note on February 2, nearly one day after Nancy’s disappearance.

Nancy was last seen on the evening of January 31, when she was dropped off at her home in Tucson, Arizona, by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. (Both Annie Guthrie and her husband were cleared in the case by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos). Doorbell footage later released by the FBI showed a masked figure approaching Nancy’s residence in the early hours of February 1.

The ransom note message obtained by investigators claimed Nancy was “safe but scared” and asked for $4 million to be paid by February 5. If the money wasn’t sent by February 9, the ransom was allegedly increased to $6 million. The note demanded that the terms be met “or else,” according to the sources.

A task force deployed amid Nancy’s disappearance attempted to use a law enforcement tactic — known as “tickling the wire” — by sending a small sum of money to the alleged kidnappers. The idea was for them to follow the money and in turn, get some answers.

However, after paying only $152, nothing happened. The money stayed in the alleged kidnapper’s Bitcoin account. (A suspect still hasn’t been named in Nancy’s disappearance.)

A ransom note was allegedly received on February 6 with a new tone. While they were still asking for money, the kidnapper allegedly offered Nancy’s body for an undisclosed sum. The Air Mail sources described the alleged kidnapper’s apology for Nancy’s inadvertent death as “sputtering and labored.”

Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, posted a video on social media the following day.

“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said at the time. “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.”

Related: Breaking Down Ransom Notes in Nancy Guthrie Case: What Has Been Revealed?

New details have continued to emerge amid the disappearance of Today show coanchor Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie. News broke on February 1 that Nancy, 84, had been reported missing by a family member who called 911. She was last seen one day prior by daughter Annie Guthrie. (Nancy shared daughters Annie and Savannah, 54, […]

Us Weekly has reached out to NBC for comment.

Following Nancy’s February 1 disappearance, Savannah took a leave from her job at the Today anchor desk. She returned to work on April 6, days after her first televised interview with longtime friend Hoda Kotb.

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“To think of what she went through. I wake up every night in the middle of the night,” Savannah said, in part. “Every night. And in the darkness, I imagine her terror. And it is unthinkable.”

She also spoke about the ransom notes, which made headlines during the early days of Nancy’s disappearance.

“Most of them, it’s my understanding, I think are not real. I didn’t see them. A person that would send a fake ransom note really has to look deeply at themselves,” Savannah said. “But I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to — I tend to believe those are real.”