The full text of the terrifying first ransom note allegedly sent by Nancy Guthrie’s kidnappers has been revealed for the first time.
Journalist Brianna Whitney read the message aloud on Wednesday’s episode of the “Crime Junkie” podcast, nearly six months after the 84-year-old woman disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona.
According to the reporter, the note began, “Hello, Savannah. Your mom, Nancy, is here.”
“She’s safe but scared,” Whitney continued reading. “She will be held for ransom and released unharmed once payment is received. We plan to hold her for up to seven days.”
She noted that the alleged kidnappers continued to demand millions of dollars, specifying deadlines and specifying that the money be transferred in U.S. currency.
“Once payment is received at the Bitcoin address below, she will be released to a secure drop-off location in Tucson within 12 hours of payment,” Winters continued to read.
But the note continued: “If payment is not received by the final deadline of 5pm on Monday the 9th, she will be killed. Your mother knows this and her life is in your hands.”
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to get this done as soon as possible. You can’t contact me from now on. There’s no negotiation. Don’t play games. Law enforcement can’t help you.”
Whitney also claimed that the note contained details about Nancy’s home. From “a white smartwatch…on the floor near my bed, like at the foot of my bed” to “a destroyed floodlight in my backyard…”
She revealed that the FBI is still investigating the legitimacy of the memo.
Savannah’s representatives did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
In particular, an anonymous FBI insider claimed to Reuters earlier this month that “none of the ransom notes can be considered authentic.”
Another law enforcement official also reinforced this claim, the newspaper said.
Air Mail claimed in June that another letter, believed to have been sent by the same person, had a “new and less confident tone” and contained a “painful and laborious” apology for Nancy’s unexpected death.
Last month, amid headlines about the alleged messages, Savannah tearfully addressed the issue on the Today show.
Although he was “not involved in the reporting” of his mother’s disappearance on the morning of February 1st, the journalist seized the “opportunity to actually ask people questions and genuinely plead with them to come forward because someone knows something”.
The NBC personality, who is “in pain” and “can’t be at peace,” added, “This is your news story today, but this is the life my sister (Annie Guthrie) lives, this is the life I live, this is the life my brother (Camron Guthrie) lives, this is the life our extended family lives, this is the life our children live every day.”
