In brief
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her Tucson home at the end of January 2023. Two ransom notes were sent days later: the first demanded Bitcoin, the second claimed she had died and apologized. Authorities and the family remain unsure if the notes are genuine, while the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department continue investigations. Rewards of up to $1 million were offered for information. The case drew national attention, with media reports and police releases of footage of a masked figure near the house.
On the night of 31 January 2023, 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, after being dropped off by relatives. Reports indicate she was taken “in the dark of night from her bed,” sparking an investigation that has spanned months and involved the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Two ransom notes followed the disappearance. The first, sent a day after her disappearance, demanded millions of Bitcoin for her release. The second, mailed on 6 February, contained no demands but claimed that the kidnappers’ actions were accidental and that Nancy had died, offering an apology to her family. Law‑enforcement officials declined to confirm whether the documents were authentic, though the Guthrie family maintains that they were genuine—sent to local news outlets and national media such as TMZ.
Authorities released security‑camera footage showing a masked person near Nancy’s home, heightening concern and prompting public warnings that she was in poor health and lacking critical medication. Police have issued a reward of up to $1 million, with an additional $100,000 from the FBI, for information leading to her return.
Savannah Guthrie, the host of NBC’s Today show, stepped away for more than two months while the case unfolded, returning in early April. In a March interview, she acknowledged that several ransom notes had appeared; she suspected some were false, though the family disagrees.
Investigations remain active, with the Pima County Sheriff's Department working closely with the FBI to follow up on leads, review information, and piece together the circumstances surrounding Nancy’s disappearance. The mother’s family and security footage continue to raise awareness, but no definitive answers have yet emerged.
For further details, see the original BBC coverage: BBC News – Nancy Guthrie case.
Image credit: Getty Images
