'She is safe but scared': Guthrie ransom notes fully released

Channel: CNN
Uploaded by CNN on 20260731
Categories: News & Politics
Tags: Nancy Guthrie ransom notes, Nancy Guthrie still missing, Authorities seek help to find Guthrie kidnappers, New Guthrie ransom note details

Nearly six months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, investigators released the full contents of a ransom note and a follow up investigators believe may contain clues that someone familiar with the alleged kidnappers may recognize. Watch 24/7 live news with CNN

Here is a detailed post about the content of the CNN video regarding the Nancy Guthrie ransom notes:

Overview

In this CNN segment, anchor Kasie Hunt discusses the Pima County Sheriff's Department's release of the full contents of two ransom notes [00:02] allegedly sent by Nancy Guthrie's abductors to an Arizona news outlet [00:10]. The release comes at the six-month mark since Guthrie’s disappearance [01:14], as

authorities seek to generate new leads by examining the writing style, syntax, and phrasing of the messages [01:21].

First Ransom Note (Received February 2)

Demands: The first note [01:47] claimed Guthrie was being held safely but scared [00:19], demanding $4 million in Bitcoin [00:23] by 5:00 PM on Thursday [01:49].

Escalation: It warned that if payment was not received, the ransom would increase to $6 million

[01:55] due by 5:00 PM on Monday [01:57]. Failure to meet the final deadline would reportedly result in her death [02:11].

Details Provided: The note mentioned specific details from the scene, including a white smart watch on the floor of her bed and a destroyed white floodlight in the backyard [01:47].

Second Ransom Note (Received February 6)

Tone and Content: A second note [02:19], differing significantly in

tone [02:24], was sent a few days later [02:16]. It stated that the senders did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition [02:29] and never intended to hurt her [02:30].

Claim of Death: The message claimed that Guthrie perished shortly after being taken due to heart-related issues and asserted she is now "buried in nature" [02:34]. The note expressed condolences, stating that nothing the family c

ould have done would have changed the outcome [02:38].

Expert Analysis and Investigation

Josh Campbell (CNN Security Correspondent): Discussed the validity of the notes, noting that while authorities previously investigated multiple hoaxes, these specific notes are believed to have come from the perpetrators [01:09]. Investigators are analyzing the exact phrasing and analyzing DNA from the scene [03:34].

Brianna

Fox (Former FBI Agent & Criminologist): Highlighted the unusual nature of the second note's apologetic tone [06:01], noting that in typical kidnapping cases ending fatally, captors demand further ransom rather than expressing regret [06:16].

Harvey Levin (Founder & Executive Producer, TMZ): Pointed out the geographical focus on Tucson television stations [07:01] and discussed discrepancies regarding whether any

Bitcoin ransom was ever deposited [08:17].

Call to Information

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information regarding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI [08:57].

Watch the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzTWLCYked0

'She is safe but scared': Guthrie ransom notes fully released

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Viewer Discussion & Comments

@CNN

Officials release Nancy Guthrie ransom note and grim follow up letter in hopes someone recognizes writing patterns: https://cnn.it/3S7C9m7

@Bkaas

If you are truly sorry, let the family know where she is.

@squirrelnibbler19

This is exactly what I expected. They took a frail delicate older person and the stress/ handling, killed her.

@McMurakami

Kidnappers, you are correct, there is nothing the family could have done....because you had her. You didn't have to. You made that choice. You led to her death. You gave her family a lifetime of wondering where she is...and wanting her back so they can properly memorialize her. You are murderers. This case is not closed. It might not be today, but one day...someone will slip. I hope you have your day in court. If you have any empathy...or compassion...or have a family of your own...or have loved anyone...then if you have any of those things....the least you can do is give the whereabouts of her burial spot.

@theresasingleton4062

A person capable of kidnapping an elderly woman with threat of death deserves to be in a cage forever.

@Diablo_MacFarlane

Hey kidnappers, tell authorities where her body is, that's the least you can do.

@GlobalCitizen55

Horrible people. I hope they are caught and held to justice.

@davidv7275

I would not expect the kidnapper to reveal the body location. Forensics of the body and area could yield evidence of their identity.

@robiking011

I don't think they're being sincere when they say ''We're sorry''.

@magildeny

I can't believe this is where they are in the process... Unbelievable... so sad the incompetence...

@rebeccagray2443

Poor lady. She’s long gone. Due to the bungling FBI she didn’t have a chance.

@Kathy-pr4wu

Here is what I want to know: If law enforcement think someone might recognize the kidnapper by the syntax of their note, why the hell didn't they release the first note to the public right away so that someone could actually have recognized it and found them while Nancy was still alive!?!? They bungled this!

@quietonsetinflunecersedition

Kash should have stepped down for this.

@DavidHarrison-x2r4eyes

If they can't provide proof of having her, I wouldn't believe the note

@solorome014

if ithe note happens to be real, saying sorry after kidnapping somebody is crazy, and that would lead me to believe that somebody in the family did it