The chilling contents of the first ransom note sent in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case have been revealed, with the message addressed directly to her daughter, “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
The letter was read on the “Crime Junkie” podcast by crime reporter Criana Whitney. The letter began: “Hello Savannah, we have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed. We will hold her for a maximum of seven days.”
The Bitcoin ransom demands millions in total, with two deadlines. It was revealed to PEOPLE that the ransom demands $4 million, increasing to $6 million by February 9 if not paid by Thursday, February 5.
“Once payment is received at the Bitcoin address below, she will be released within 12 hours of deposit to a secure drop-off location in Tucson. If payment is not received by the final deadline of Monday the 9th at 5:00 p.m., she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” Whitney read.
The sender also warned that law enforcement will not be able to help in this matter.
The podcaster revealed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom in US dollars, which is a bit suspicious because “usually if you’re from here, you don’t say that,” which suggests they may be foreigners.
There were also details that only the kidnapper knew; Nancy had a white smartwatch lying on the floor next to her bed and a floodlight in the garden had been broken. Whitney said this information gave the FBI confidence that the case was “not a hoax.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1 after being kidnapped by a masked man seen in her doorbell camera footage. A ransom note received several months later indicated that she had died, although no confirmation has yet been made.
