Authorities responded to reports of a “possible ransom note” after Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office released a statement Tuesday saying it was “aware of reports circulating of a possible ransom note in connection with the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”
“We take all tips and leads very seriously,” the statement continued. “Everything that comes in goes directly to detectives working with the FBI.”
TMZ received a memo that allegedly demanded a payment in exchange for Nancy’s release, the outlet reported on Tuesday.
The banknote issuers allegedly demanded millions of Bitcoins and requested that the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address. TMZ reported that the Bitcoin address is “real.”
The note contained a deadline for the ransom to be delivered and a threatening message saying “or else”.
The memo also allegedly mentioned the clothes Nancy was wearing and items that were damaged in her home after she went missing.
TMZ has confirmed that it forwarded the ransom note to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
Earlier Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a press conference that he had not ruled out a ransom demand.
“We are following every lead that we have,” Nanos told reporters, adding: “We are sharing every lead with the FBI.”
Nancy, who has been missing since Sunday, was last seen Saturday night around 9:30 p.m., when she was dropped off after having dinner with her family at her home in the Tucson area.
Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, was the last person to see her mother before she went missing.
Investigators believe Nancy, 84, was “removed from her home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night,” authorities told Page Six.
“This includes the possibility of kidnapping and kidnapping,” a spokesperson said at the time.
Nancy was reported missing around 11 a.m. Sunday after she failed to show up for church.
Police confirmed they were treating her home as a “crime scene”.
“Now that we have processed the crime scene, we believe there is indeed a crime scene and we are asking for the community’s assistance,” Nanos said at a news conference Monday.
Blood was reportedly found outside Nancy’s house, but it is unclear whose blood it belonged to.
Nancy, who suffers from high blood pressure, requires essential medication every day to survive.
On Monday, Savannah’s family told the Today show in a statement:
“If anyone has any information, please contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office at 520-351-4900. The family appreciates the support, thoughts and prayers.”
Savannah is expected to decline hosting NBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony as the desperate search for her mother continues.
