A ransom note tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie may offer investigators their clearest indication yet of where the 84-year-old grandmother could be held. The letter, which was sent to TMZ earlier this week, reportedly contains details suggesting Guthrie may no longer be in Tucson, Arizona, where authorities believe she was forcibly taken from her home late last month.
While investigators have not confirmed the authenticity of the note, federal authorities and the family have publicly acknowledged its existence. The alleged ransom letter includes a demand for millions of dollars in bitcoin in exchange for Guthrie’s safe return.
Crucially, the letter also references a specific timeframe for how long it would take to return her to Tucson once payment is made, a detail that could significantly narrow the scope of the search. TMZ reported that the timeline outlined in the letter appears to assume Guthrie would be driven back rather than flown, noting that air travel would require Real ID verification and likely expose the captors.
Factoring in reasonable driving speeds and the stated timeframe, analysts suggested investigators could draw a rough radius around Tucson to determine where Guthrie might be held. That potential radius spans a wide swath of the western and central United States, including Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Kansas and Oklahoma.
Portions of northern Mexico could also fall within that range, though crossing international borders would introduce additional complications and risks. Despite the size of the possible search area, the report noted that even a broad geographic framework could be valuable to law enforcement as the investigation intensifies.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin addressed the letter on air, explaining why he believes it may be connected to the Tucson disappearance rather than a hoax. Levin said the letter was unusually well-written and structured, featuring detailed language that suggested it was crafted by someone educated who spent significant time preparing it.
The letter was reportedly sent not only to TMZ but also to multiple local television outlets in Tucson, a detail Levin said reinforced his belief that the author has a direct connection to the case and the area.
The first deadline outlined in the letter reportedly passed Thursday without any proof of life being provided. However, a second deadline is approaching Monday, increasing pressure on investigators and the family as the case enters a critical phase.
Levin added that information in the note points toward Guthrie being held somewhere along the West Coast or possibly in northern Mexico, and he described an approximate area where her location might fall based on the details provided.
Authorities continue to treat the case as an active abduction. Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, was forcibly taken from her Tucson home in the early morning hours of February 1.
Officials outlined a detailed timeline during a press conference. Guthrie was dropped off at her home around 9:48 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, after dinner with family. At 1:47 a.m., her doorbell camera disconnected. Software detected a person near the camera at 2:12 a.m., though no video footage was recorded. At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery and is actively vetting ransom-related communications. At least one individual has already been arrested in connection with what authorities described as an “imposter ransom demand.”
Sheriff Nanos also confirmed that blood found on Guthrie’s porch belonged to her.
