A ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station following the disappearance of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County sheriff told CBS News.
The note, which the station received Monday and agreed not to report on, contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, although he would not confirm the accuracy of that information or the legitimacy of the note.
“It’s like any piece of evidence,” Nanos told CBS News. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
Nanos did not specify which station the note was sent to, but CBS affiliate KOLD-TV reported Tuesday it had received an email that “appears to be one of the alleged ransom notes,” which it forwarded to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators have analyzed the note and are taking it seriously, Nanos said.
He said the FBI reviewed the note and made the decision to share it with Savannah Guthrie. Authorities had hoped to keep the information from becoming public, but the note was obtained by TMZ, which reported on it before contacting the sheriff’s office, Nanos said.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department had earlier said on social media it was aware of “reports circulating about possible ransom note(s),” adding, “Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”
Surveillance video from a home security system has yielded nothing so far, Nanos told CBS News. He said investigators believe the system may have been set to automatically delete footage after a short period of time, and they are now attempting to recover it through forensic means.
Nanos previously told CBS News that investigators believe the 84-year-old was abducted from her home in the middle of the night over the weekend, and he described it as “a crime scene.” Authorities have been searching for her since Sunday.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home Saturday night, but no one knew she was missing until she didn’t show up for church the next morning, Nanos said.
The sheriff has repeatedly said Guthrie, who lives alone, could not have wandered away from her home because she has no cognitive issues and very limited mobility.
He also expressed concern that she needs access to medication that she must take daily, telling CBS News, “The clock is literally ticking.”
“You’ve placed her in great jeopardy without giving her meds that are critical to her,” Nanos said. “Again, like I’ve said, could be fatal if she doesn’t get those meds.”
The sheriff has said it’s unclear how many people may have been involved in the apparent abduction.
“It could be one, it could’ve been more, I don’t know,” he said.
A little bit of blood was found inside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CBS News, and what appeared to be a small amount of dried blood was seen next to a doormat outside the front door of the home on Tuesday.
Anna Schecter, Alex Sundby and Pat Milton contributed to this report.
News
Courtroom Clip: The Hawaii doctor talked continuously for 37 minutes while his hand kept repeating the same bizarre action
The judge in Gerhardt Konig’s attempted murder trial in Honolulu, Hawaii, instructed jurors this morning before attorneys gave closing arguments. Judge Paul B.K. Wong has been a judge in Hawaii’s 1st Circuit Court since 2017. He previously was a district judge, a partner with the Honolulu law firm McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, LLP and a […]
A clue in every sentence: The missing Oakland coffee shop owner’s husband says each secret message between them ended with the same bizarre detail
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — It’s been nearly two weeks since an Oakland business owner disappeared. Fifty-two-year-old Amy Hillyard left her home in the Cleveland Heights neighborhood near Lake Merritt on March 25. She was last seen near Dimond Park, where a search was conducted last week. Now, friends are urging the public for help, asking neighbors […]
The final court result in the Hawaii doctor case is now taking shape after two new videos, 500 pages of files, and lengthy audio recordings laid out the full story
Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty and testified in his own defense. A Hawaii doctor is on trial for allegedly attacking his wife with a syringe and a rock during what was supposed to be a birthday hike — and the couple’s dramatically different accounts of what happened that day have captivated a courtroom in […]
The final Hawaii doctor trial has reached its decisive moment, as 2 new videos, 500 pages of documents, and three 10-minute audio files appear to prove everything
Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty and testified in his own defense. A Hawaii doctor is on trial for allegedly attacking his wife with a syringe and a rock during what was supposed to be a birthday hike — and the couple’s dramatically different accounts of what happened that day have captivated a courtroom in […]
Victory Smile: Gerhardt Konig embraced his lawyer and flashed a triumphant grin after the final trial session, but his wife’s reaction stole the entire moment
Gerhardt Konig, left, hugs his defense lawyer Thomas Otake after closing arguments in his attempted murder trial in a courtroom, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Honolulu.
Last Call Mystery: The daughter of the missing American woman in the Bahamas has shared the final call with her mother — and it lasted just 7 seconds
The daughter of a Michigan woman who went missing in the Bahamas during a nighttime boat ride with her husband is desperately seeking answers as the search for her mother has entered day three. Lynette Hooker’s daughter, Karli Aylesworth, describes her mother as an experienced swimmer who has been sailing for more than 10 years. […]
End of content
No more pages to load














