Key Points: Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note
- Nancy Guthrie ransom note release marks six months since her disappearance
- Sheriff Chris Nanos published two notes, one saying she died shortly after being taken
- The notes demanded up to $6 million in Bitcoin from daughter Savannah Guthrie
- Two men detained early in the case are now seeking $3 million in wrongful arrest claims
Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home, investigators just released the letters at the center of her case, hoping someone recognizes the writing.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos published two ransom notes Friday, timed deliberately to the six month anniversary of her disappearance.
What The Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Actually Says
Here’s the timeline behind this case. Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen alive at her home on January 31.
The first note arrived February 2, sent directly to a Tucson television station and addressed personally to Savannah Guthrie herself.
That note demanded between $4 million and $6 million in Bitcoin, with the exact amount depending on how quickly payment arrived. It called Nancy “safe but scared.”
The second note, sent February 6 to a different Tucson outlet, delivered devastating news. It stated Nancy had died shortly after being taken, believed to be heart related.
That note included an apology too, telling the family nothing they could have done would have changed the outcome, and that investigators hoped they could eventually find peace.
Why Sheriff Nanos Released The Notes Now
Here’s why authorities waited six months to release this material publicly. Nanos told NBC News the notes contain a “unique linguistic style,” specific word choices and phrasing that someone close to the writer might recognize.
His department believes a friend, family member, coworker, or acquaintance could identify these writing patterns, even without knowing anything else about the actual crime.
“There is somebody out there that knows something,” Nanos said directly. “They know who did this.”
Wrongful Arrest Claims Add New Complications
This case has generated painful complications beyond the original investigation too. Two men detained early on, Carlos Palazuelos and Daniel Maddox, were questioned and released without charges.
Both men have since filed formal legal claims against Nanos’s department, alleging wrongful arrest and property damage, seeking a combined $3 million in compensation.
Their claim specifically criticizes Nanos for publicly confirming an arrest had been made, language they argue made Palazuelos look guilty to the entire public before he was ever cleared.
With DNA analysis and camera footage still being reviewed, and the case now entering its seventh month unsolved, investigators are counting on these newly released notes to finally generate the tip that breaks it open.