More than six months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home near Tucson, Arizona, investigators say the public release of two ransom notes has produced a modest rise in tips. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the uptick in information coming into the task force following the decision to share the full contents of the messages with the public.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, when she was dropped off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills. The next day, family members reported her missing after she failed to attend church as expected. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today show, and other relatives have remained actively involved in the search, describing the past months as a period of deep anguish and unresolved questions.

In the days immediately after her disappearance, two notes were sent to Tucson television station KOLD. The first arrived on February 2. It claimed Nancy was alive, describing her as “safe but scared,” and demanded payment in Bitcoin. The initial amount requested was $4 million, with the figure rising to $6 million if the earlier ᴅᴇᴀᴅline was missed. The writer warned that she would be killed if the money was not received and stated that her life rested in her family’s hands.

A second note followed on February 6. Its tone shifted significantly. The sender claimed Nancy had died shortly after being taken from her home, attributing her death to her physical condition and stating that she had been “buried in nature.” The message included an apology, saying there had been no intention to harm her and that nothing the family could have done would have changed the outcome.

On July 31, 2026, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department released the complete text of both notes. Officials explained that the messages contained distinctive patterns of word choice, sentence structure, and phrasing. They hoped someone familiar with the writer—whether a friend, relative, coworker, or acquaintance—might recognize those linguistic traits and come forward. Investigators also urged the public to reflect on any unusual behavior observed around the time of the disappearance, such as sudden changes in routine, unexplained absences, mood shifts, or interest in the neighborhood where Nancy lived.

According to a statement provided in early August, the Nancy Guthrie Task Force has recorded a slight increase in tips since the notes became public. Authorities said every tip received has been followed up. The investigation remains active and ongoing. Earlier in the case, law enforcement released images and video of an unidentified man seen at Nancy’s front door around the time she disappeared. Analysis of DNA and digital evidence continues.

The Guthrie family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information that leads to Nancy’s recovery or the identification of those responsible. In a public message marking six months since her mother vanished, Savannah Guthrie described the family’s daily reality of longing and determination. She wrote of the irreversible absence left behind and the commitment to learn the truth so they can honor Nancy’s life with dignity.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900. Tips can be submitted anonymously.

The release of the notes represents one of the most significant public appeals in the case so far. While the increase in tips has been described as modest, investigators continue to hope that a single piece of information from someone who recognizes the language or behavior ᴀssociated with the notes could move the search forward.

Sources: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/nancy-guthrie-investigators-see-uptick-tips-after-sheriff-released-ransom-notes