Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie in Arizona have determined that a new ransom message claimed to be connected to her disappearance is not credible, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday.
The message emerged nearly eight months after Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home outside of Tucson. The sheriff’s department and FBI initially said Monday that investigators were examining a new possible ransom communication and related social media posts.
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However, authorities announced on Tuesday that the message was not connected to the case.
“On Monday, September 28, 2026, the PCSD/FBI Guthrie Task Force was made aware of a new possible ransom text message related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation. After further review, investigators determine the text message is not credible,” authorities said in a statement, emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing.
The sheriff’s department also warned that scammers could attempt to capitalize on the high-profile investigation and urged anyone who receives messages related to the case to contact law enforcement. Law enforcement also emphasized individuals who receive messages related to the case should not send money or provide personal information.
The latest message reportedly originated with a Tucson woman who said she was contacted via social media by someone saying the missing Guthrie was alive and demanded a ransom. The woman questioned the legitimacy of the message and brought it to authorities.
It is not the first purported ransom demand investigators have examined since Guthrie disappeared on Feb. 1. The first note, sent to local CBS Tucson affiliate KOLD-TV on Feb. 2, demanded that Savannah Guthrie pay the $4 million ransom in bitcoin for her elderly mother’s release. The second note was sent to the same outlet on Feb. 6, this time addressed to the whole Guthrie family, claiming Nancy Guthrie had died. Other ransom notes have been determined to be fake in an effort to make a profit.
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Authorities believe Guthrie was kidnapped or otherwise taken against her will from her home. Investigators found blood near the front entrance, and surveillance footage released by the FBI showed a masked person approaching the property and interfering with a security camera.
No suspects have been arrested in connection to the case. The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery.
