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 journalist Criana Whitney. The letter began: “Hi 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 no more than seven days.”
Bitcoin ransom demand totaling millions, with two deadlines. It has been revealed to PEOPLE that the ransom demands $4 million, rising to $6 million on February 9 if not paid by Thursday, February 5.
“Once payment is received to the Bitcoin address below, she will be released within 12 hours of payment to a secure drop off location back in Tucson. If payment is not received by the deadline of Monday the 9th at 5pm, she will be killed. Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,” Whitney read.
The sender also warned that any law enforcement will not be able to help in this case.
The podcaster revealed that the kidnappers demanded a ransom in US dollars, which is a little suspicious since “typically, if you’re from here, you don’t say that,” suggesting they may be foreigners.
There were also details known only to the abductor; Nancy had a white smartwatch lying on the floor near her bed, and a floodlight in the backyard had been smashed. Whitney mentioned that this information gave the FBI assurance that the case “wasn’t a hoax.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing from her Tucson, Arizona home on February 1 after being kidnapped by a masked man seen on her doorbell camera footage. A ransom note received several months later stated that she had passed away, although no confirmation has yet been given.
