LOS ANGELES, June 23 — The mystery surrounding the disappearance of US television host Savannah Guthrie’s mother has taken another chilling turn, with investigators reportedly examining a second ransom note that apologised for the 84-year-old’s alleged death after her abduction.
According to the BBC, the letter was sent days after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, in late January.
Unlike an earlier note demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin for her release, the second reportedly claimed her death had been accidental and included an apology addressed to her family.
US authorities have not publicly confirmed the contents of either note.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment on the reported letters but told the BBC the investigation “remains active and ongoing”.
“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case,” a spokesman said.
Nancy Guthrie vanished on January 31 after relatives dropped her off at her home. Concern grew when she failed to join a friend for a virtual church service the following morning.
According to US media, the first ransom note arrived a day after her disappearance and included highly specific details about the layout of her home, her bedroom and the area surrounding the property.
The note was reportedly addressed to Savannah Guthrie, the longtime co-anchor of NBC’s Today show.
The second letter, reportedly sent on February 6, contained no ransom demand. Instead, it allegedly claimed Nancy had died unintentionally and apologised for what had happened.
After receiving the letters, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released an emotional video appeal addressed directly to the kidnappers.
“We received your message, and we understand,” Guthrie said.
“We beg you now to return our mother to us.”
She added that the family was willing to pay for Nancy’s safe return.
As the investigation continued, authorities released security camera footage showing a masked individual outside Nancy Guthrie’s home around the time she disappeared.
Officials and the Guthrie family have repeatedly warned that the elderly woman was in fragile health and without essential medication.
The family has offered a US$1 million (RM4.2 million) reward for information leading to Nancy’s return, while the FBI has pledged an additional US$100,000.
Speaking publicly in February, Guthrie acknowledged the family feared the worst but said they would continue hoping, even though they knew “she may already be gone”.
In a March interview with NBC, the broadcaster revealed that several ransom notes had surfaced during the investigation, although she believed only the first two were genuine.
The case led Guthrie to step away from Today for more than two months before returning to the programme in early April, while the search for her mother continued.
No arrests have been announced, and Nancy Guthrie remains missing.
