Investigators may have received a credible ransom note from the 84-year-old’s alleged kidnappers days after she disappeared, but they did not meet the demands.

Nancy Guthrie investigation suffered critical early misstep that could have led to her recovery, report claims

Investigators may have received a credible ransom note from the 84-year-old's alleged kidnappers days after she disappeared, but they did not meet the demands.

By Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman is a news writer for with previous work in MUBI Notebook, Slant, and the LA Review of Books.

EW's editorial guidelines

June 22, 2026 8:54 a.m. ET

Leave a Comment

Savannah Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie. Credit:

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

- A new* *report claims that the handling of a ransom demand early into the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance may have proven to be a critical misstep.

- Citing two sources close to the investigation, the report from *Air Mail* alleges that a ransom demand sent one day after the 84-year-old's disappearance promised she was "safe but scared."

- Investigators allegedly had reason to find the message credible, but chose to send a much smaller sum, which resulted in a grim follow-up, according to the report.

The authorities leading the crusade to find Nancy Guthrie after her disappearance may have made a critical mistake in the early days of the investigation, according to a new report.

Published on Saturday, a fresh look at the case in *Air Mail** *zeroes in on a series of ransom demands made of the 84-year-old's family, which includes daughter Savannah Guthrie, a cohost of NBC's *Today*. The report cites two sources close to the investigation, which gave the outlet more context for the messages from Nancy's alleged kidnappers that flowed in just hours after she was reported missing on Feb. 1.

As reported at the time by local outlets like KOLD and KGUN, as well as TMZ — all of which were sent the alleged kidnapper's demands — $4 million was to be paid in bitcoin by Feb. 5. That price would hike to $6 million if the deadline passed, and despite Savannah and her siblings' public plea for help that acknowledged the ransom, the deadline was left to pass.

Now, *Air Mail *claims that investigators not only had credible reason to believe the alleged kidnappers were legitimate, but those individuals also described Nancy as "safe but scared" before the Feb. 5 deadline. After the deadline passed, they allegedly offered something in the way of an "apology" for her death, adding her body could be delivered for the original $4 million sum.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

"The good" messages began pouring in as early as 6:42 p.m. on Feb. 2, a day after Nancy was reported missing from her Tucson, Ariz., home. These messages allegedly contained details that gave investigators confidence they were in contact with Nancy's real kidnappers, such as an accurate description of her outfit the night her disappearance. The messages also noted the presence of a damaged floodlight in Nancy's backyard.

The deadline to pay the $4 million sum was set for 5 p.m. local time on Feb. 5. In a follow-up message, the alleged kidnappers indicated they would raise the amount to $6 million if not paid by Feb. 9. They would not negotiate on these terms, and *Air Mail*'s sources claimed they ended this last communication with the threat "or else."

Savannah Guthrie addresses ransom note rumors in emotional plea for missing mom: 'Everyone is looking for you, mommy'

Daveigh Chase's manager speaks out about her past struggles, says she was missing for over 10 years before her death

A task force composed of local authorities from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI reportedly tried to employ a tactic nicknamed "tickling the wire," which involves paying a small amount of the demanded sum to track where and how it moves.

Only $152 was sent to the designated Bitcoin wallet, according to the report. It remained there untouched, and then "the bad" emails began to arrive.

A message arrived on Feb. 6, one day past the first deadline, which contained an "apology" for Nancy's death. The report claims that the alleged kidnappers still offered to exchange her body for the original $4 million sum, or another amount that was never determined.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our****** EW Dispatch newsletter******.***

The search for Nancy's whereabouts is days away from entering its fifth month. Savannah continues to ask the public for help locating her missing mother, while an imposter who sent fraudulent ransom demands has been arrested.

The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department are asking anyone with tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The bureau has set a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy's recovery or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.

- Celebrities & Creators

- Celebrity Friends and Family

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Celebrity”