One of the ransom notes sent in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance in February contained a “very painstaking” apology for her inadvertent death, according to a new report.
Sources close to the investigation told Airmail in an article published Saturday that the message arrived on February 6 with a “newer and less confident tone” than previous notes from the same IP address.
The alleged kidnapper of Savannah Guthrie’s mother has raised the possibility of returning the 84-year-old’s body for money, but the amount has not been disclosed.
The person had previously demanded $4 million for Nancy’s safe return, hours after she was reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
A message at the time said the matriarch felt “safe but scared.”
The message asked to send millions of dollars in Bitcoin by February 5th, and if it was not received by February 9th, the amount would reach $6 million.
Instead of sending the large amount, the authorities sent $152 to the Bitcoin address in question. The idea was to entice the person to withdraw the money as cash and be traceable.
However, the amount remained unchanged.
This weekend’s report identified this failed attempt to “tick the network” as a major error early in the investigation.
Representatives for Mr. Guthrie did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
The “Today” show co-host apparently told Hoda Kotb about the specific ransom note during his first interview, where he was discussing a family tragedy in March.
“I think we responded to two notes that we received, and I’m inclined to believe they are genuine,” she said at the time.
She and her siblings (brother Camron Guthrie and sister Annie Guthrie) spoke directly to the alleged kidnappers in multiple Instagram videos, pleading for their mother’s return.
After sending a message of apology on February 6, she said: “I received the message and I understand it. I ask that you please return my mother to us so we can celebrate together.”
Savannah called it “precious” and offered to pay the ransom.
Later that month, Savannah again offered $1 million for Nancy’s return.
“We know she could be missing,” the journalist said in the emotional footage. “She may already be gone. … And if this is real, we accept that, but we need to know where she is. We need her to come home.”
Nancy’s kidnapper, who was seen on security camera footage at Nancy’s home the night of her disappearance, returned to work at Studio 1A in April and remains at large as the investigation enters its fifth month.
