A ransom note tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, claimed she died shortly after being abducted from her Tucson-area home, according to reporting by CNN, ABC News and the Associated Press, citing law enforcement sources.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed Nancy Guthrie’s death, no body has been recovered, and the FBI Phoenix Field Office and Pima County Sheriff’s Department continue to treat the case as an active investigation, according to Associated Press reporting.
Key Facts In The Nancy Guthrie Case
FBI investigators say a note linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie indicated she died during a kidnapping plot. Investigators continue to search for answers nearly five months after her disappearance. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. #News4Tucson pic.twitter.com/7ZnfPEMMPU
— KVOA News 4 Tucson (@KVOA) June 22, 2026
The FBI says Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona, on the evening of January 31, 2026. The agency describes her as a vulnerable adult who has difficulty walking, has a pacemaker and needs daily medication for a heart condition, according to the FBI missing-person notice.
A timeline released through law enforcement reporting shows Guthrie was dropped off at home at about 9:48 p.m. on January 31. Her doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. on February 1, camera software detected a person at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone at 2:28 a.m.. Relatives found her missing later that morning and called 911 at 12:03 p.m., according to an ABC News timeline.
The FBI later released images and video showing an armed individual appearing to tamper with the camera at Guthrie’s front door on the morning of her disappearance. The agency describes the person sought for identification as a male, about 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches, with an average build, wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Latest Verified Update
ABC News reported on June 22, 2026, that a second ransom note received by a Tucson television station said Guthrie died after her abduction and was “buried in nature,” according to sources familiar with the investigation. ABC also reported that the Guthrie family received two notes sent to Tucson media outlets that investigators deemed potentially credible, and that the FBI tried to trace their origin through the ransom note investigation.
The Associated Press, citing CNN and other news organizations, reported that one note said those who abducted Guthrie did not mean to kill her but that she died shortly after her disappearance. AP also reported that CNN and the Tucson station withheld full details of the notes so future communications could be authenticated.
Crucially, the reported note is not the same as an official finding of death. AP said the Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment on the note’s contents, the FBI did not respond to a request for comment, and the Guthrie family made no immediate public statement on Monday.
Background And Why It Matters
The case drew national attention because of Savannah Guthrie’s public profile, but the underlying investigation is a local and federal missing-person case involving an elderly woman authorities believe was taken against her will. The FBI is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved.
Ransom communications have complicated the inquiry. On February 5, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona said the FBI arrested Derrick Callella, 42, in Hawthorne, California, and charged him by criminal complaint with transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce and using a telecommunications device anonymously with intent to abuse, threaten or harass.
Prosecutors stressed that a complaint is only a charging document and that Callella is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, according to the Justice Department announcement.
That separate federal case underscores the challenge investigators face in distinguishing potentially credible ransom messages from opportunistic or false claims. In Guthrie’s case, the central unresolved questions remain whether the reported note can be fully authenticated, who sent it, where Nancy Guthrie is, and who was seen at her home.
What Happens Next
The FBI continues to ask for public help, including photographs, doorbell camera footage or other digital information that could help locate Nancy Guthrie.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip online through the agency’s Nancy Guthrie tip page. ABC News also listed the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900.
Until authorities confirm more, the latest reports should be treated as a significant development, not a final conclusion. The reported note may shape the direction of the investigation, but the case remains unresolved nearly five months after Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home.
