The chilling ransom note reportedly sent by the kidnappers of Nancy Guthrie has been disclosed in full for the first time.
During a recent episode of the “Crime Junkie” podcast, journalist Brianna Whitney shared the contents of this letter, following the disappearance of the 84-year-old woman from her Tucson, Arizona home nearly six months ago.
The letter opens with a direct address: “Hello, Savannah. Your mom, Nancy, is here.”
Whitney continued reading, revealing the note conveyed that Nancy was “safe but scared” and would be held for ransom, stating that her release would happen once the payment was made. The kidnappers suggested they could keep her for up to a week.
The demands outlined in the note included a hefty sum in millions, with explicit timelines and a requirement for the funds to be in U.S. currency.
“After the payment is processed at the Bitcoin address below, she will be released at a secure drop-off location in Tucson within twelve hours,” Whitney recounted.
It’s noteworthy that the FBI has yet to confirm whether this note originated from the actual kidnappers.
Continuing, the message warned that if payment was not received by the deadline of 5 PM on the following Monday, Nancy’s life would be in jeopardy, stressing that “her life is in your hands.” It also insisted on urgency: “You can’t contact me from now on. There’s no negotiation. Don’t play games. Law enforcement can’t help you.”
Whitney pointed out that the note included details about Nancy’s home, mentioning items like “a white smartwatch…on the floor near my bed” and “a damaged floodlight in my backyard.”
While the FBI is still assessing the note’s authenticity, Savannah’s representatives did not respond to a request for comments.
An anonymous source within the FBI had indicated to Reuters that none of the ransom notes currently involved can be deemed genuine.
Additionally, a different law enforcement official supported this perspective. In a report from Air Mail, it was stated that another letter, seemingly from the same individual, conveyed a “new and less confident tone” along with an “apology” regarding Nancy’s unexpected death.
Amid ongoing developments, Savannah, along with her siblings, has been pleading for her mother’s safe return for close to half a year. Last month, she emotionally addressed the topic on the Today show, emphasizing her desire for anyone with information to come forward. Although he was not part of the reporting on the day Nancy vanished, Savannah expressed his frustration and emotional distress, articulating that he feels “in pain” and cannot find peace as their family continues to hope for her return.
