New Ransom Message in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Was Deemed Not Credible as Investigation Continues
Authorities Said the Latest Text Was Reviewed by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI Task Force, While Earlier Ransom Claims Remain Part of the Ongoing Case
Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie have reviewed another possible ransom message connected to her disappearance, nearly eight months after the 84-year-old mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie vanished from her home near Tucson.
The new message initially drew attention because of the long-running mystery surrounding Nancy’s disappearance and the previous ransom claims that had surfaced during the investigation.
But after examining the latest communication, authorities said it was not credible.
The case remains open, and no one has been arrested.
Authorities Learned About the Message in Late September
On Monday, September 28, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said investigators had recently become aware of a new possible ransom message tied to Nancy’s case.
The department and the FBI task force working alongside it began reviewing the material.
Authorities also said they were monitoring social media comments related to the message.
At that point, investigators had not yet determined whether the communication was genuine.
The Message Was Later Determined to Be Not Credible
By Tuesday, the sheriff’s department had completed additional review.
Authorities said the message was not credible.
Officials described it as a text message rather than a traditional written ransom note.
The development prompted another warning about people potentially attempting to take advantage of a high-profile missing-person investigation.
Investigators Warned About Possible Scams
Authorities cautioned that scammers may try to exploit concern surrounding Nancy’s disappearance.
They urged people who receive texts or other communications claiming to contain information about her to contact law enforcement.
They also warned recipients not to send money.
People were advised not to provide personal information to anyone making unverified claims about the case.
This Was Not the First Ransom Claim Connected to the Case
Several alleged ransom messages have appeared since Nancy disappeared.
Earlier claims became a significant part of the investigation because some of the messages referenced details connected to her home.
On July 31, authorities publicly released two messages that had been sent to a Tucson television station during the first days after Nancy vanished.
Investigators hoped releasing the wording might help someone recognize the writer or remember something relevant.
One Earlier Message Demanded Millions in Bitcoin
The first of the previously released messages demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin.
It also referred to a white smartwatch lying on the floor near the foot of Nancy’s bed.
The message additionally mentioned a damaged backyard floodlight.
Those details drew attention because they appeared connected to circumstances surrounding Nancy’s home after her disappearance.
A Second Message Made a Much Darker Claim
The second communication released by investigators claimed Nancy had died shortly after being taken.
It stated that she was “buried in nature now.”
The supplied account does not establish that this claim was independently confirmed.
It remained part of the material investigators were examining rather than proof of what had happened to Nancy.
Investigators Hoped Someone Might Recognize the Writing
Sheriff Chris Nanos later explained why authorities decided to release information from the earlier messages.
In an August 1 video, he said:
“We just saw what was being said, and we felt like we needed to put something out that’s really accurate, and this was the time.”
He said investigators hoped specific wording or details might cause someone to recognize the style or think of a person who could have written the messages.
The Investigation Began After Nancy Failed to Arrive at a Friend’s Home
Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31.
Her family had dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson.
According to the supplied timeline, her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m.
It closed about two minutes later.
Nothing about that moment immediately signaled the disappearance that would soon follow.
She Was Reported Missing the Next Day
On February 1, Nancy was expected to go to a friend’s house to watch a virtual church service.
She never arrived.
That raised concern among the people who knew her.
Family members went to her home around midday to check on her.
They then called 911.
Authorities Believe She Was Taken From Her Home
Investigators believe Nancy was taken from the residence during the early hours of February 1.
The supplied account does not identify a suspect or describe anyone as having been formally charged in connection with her disappearance.
The investigation has remained active for months.
Despite the publicity surrounding the case and the alleged ransom communications, no arrest has been made.
The Long Timeline Has Deepened the Family’s Uncertainty
Nearly eight months had passed by the time the latest possible ransom text came to investigators’ attention.
Each new communication therefore carried the possibility of providing information in a case that had remained unresolved for a prolonged period.
At the same time, investigators had to determine whether each message was authentic or simply another attempt to exploit the case.
The latest message was ultimately placed in the second category.
The New Message Added Another Layer of Confusion
When authorities first acknowledged the communication on September 28, it was still under review.
That meant investigators could not immediately dismiss it.
They examined both the message itself and the surrounding online discussion.
By the following day, the sheriff’s department said it was not credible.
The quick clarification helped separate the latest rumor from information investigators considered useful.
Scams Can Complicate Missing-Person Investigations
False messages can create several problems in a case like this.
They can distract investigators from genuine leads.
They can cause additional distress for families already living with uncertainty.
They can also create opportunities for people to demand money or personal information from those desperate for answers.
That is why authorities specifically warned the public not to respond financially to unverified communications.
People Were Asked to Preserve and Report Suspicious Messages
Rather than engaging with anyone who claims to know something about Nancy, authorities want such communications reported directly.
A suspicious text may still be useful to investigators even if the sender turns out to be a scammer.
Law enforcement can review its origin, wording, timing, and any other details connected to it.
That is a safer approach than responding independently.
The Earlier Messages Remain Important to the Timeline
The two messages released in July are distinct from the newer text that was later deemed not credible.
The earlier notes were received during the first days after Nancy disappeared.
One sought a large bitcoin payment.
The other claimed she had died.
Investigators released them publicly months later in hopes that someone might recognize something in their language or content.
The Mention of Nancy’s Home Drew Particular Attention
The first ransom message referenced a white smartwatch near the foot of Nancy’s bed.
It also mentioned a destroyed floodlight in the backyard.
Those details made the communication especially notable to investigators.
But the supplied account does not establish that every claim in that message was verified.
Authorities treated it as evidence to examine rather than as a definitive account of what happened.
No Confirmed Explanation Has Emerged
Despite the different messages, there has been no publicly established explanation for Nancy’s disappearance in the supplied account.
There is no identified arrested suspect.
There is no confirmed ransom outcome.
And there is no publicly established resolution to the case.
The uncertainty is one of the reasons each alleged new communication attracts attention.
Savannah Guthrie Has Continued Asking for Answers
Savannah, 54, has repeatedly spoken publicly about her mother’s disappearance.
Her appeals have appeared both on air and online.
As the months passed without a resolution, those messages became increasingly emotional.
The family has continued urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
She Spoke About Wanting a Proper Goodbye
During the September 15 broadcast of Today, Savannah said the family wanted to give her mother a proper goodbye.
The remark reflected how difficult the prolonged uncertainty had become.
Without clear answers about what happened to Nancy, the family remained caught between continuing hope and confronting painful possibilities.
An Earlier Instagram Message Described the Family’s Grief
On August 1, after the earlier ransom notes became public, Savannah shared another message online.
She said the family woke each day trying to remain strong because that was what their joyful and resilient mother had taught them to do.
She also described the family’s hearts as being in ruins.
Her message included another plea for information.
The Family Has Emphasized That People Can Speak Anonymously
Savannah urged anyone who knew something to come forward.
She said the reward remained available.
She also stressed that a person could provide information anonymously.
The goal of those appeals has remained the same throughout the investigation: finding information that could explain what happened after Nancy returned home on January 31.
The Case Has Generated Both Leads and False Claims
High-profile investigations often attract large amounts of attention.
That attention can produce legitimate tips.
It can also generate rumors, speculation, and false communications.
Investigators must examine each potential lead while avoiding assumptions about its credibility.
The September ransom text illustrates that process.
The New Text Was Examined Rather Than Immediately Dismissed
When investigators first learned about it, they did not publicly declare it authentic.
They reviewed it.
They monitored discussion surrounding it.
They evaluated whether it could be connected to the disappearance.
Only after that review did the sheriff’s department say the message was not credible.
Authorities Want the Public to Be Careful
The warning following the false message was straightforward.
Do not send money to someone who claims to have information about Nancy.
Do not provide personal details.
Do not assume a text message is genuine simply because it mentions the case.
Report suspicious communications to law enforcement instead.
Nancy’s Disappearance Remains Unsolved
The central question remains unanswered.
Nancy was last seen after returning to her Catalina Foothills home on January 31.
She did not arrive at a friend’s home the following morning.
Her family went to check on her and contacted authorities.
Investigators believe she was taken from the residence in the early hours of February 1.
Nearly eight months later, there was still no arrest.
Every New Claim Must Be Carefully Verified
The latest ransom text demonstrates why caution is necessary.
A message can appear alarming.
It can spread rapidly on social media.
It can sound as though it contains a major breakthrough.
But unless investigators determine that it is credible, it should not be treated as proof of anything.
The Family Continues Waiting for Answers
For Savannah and the rest of Nancy’s family, the passage of time has not produced the resolution they have repeatedly sought.
They have continued asking people to come forward.
They have continued hoping that someone remembers something.
And investigators have continued reviewing information connected to the case.
The September message did not provide the breakthrough many may have hoped for.
The Investigation Remains Open
No one has been arrested in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI task force continue working the case.
Authorities remain interested in information that could help clarify what happened after Nancy returned home on the night of January 31.
The newer ransom message has now been ruled not credible, but the search for reliable information continues.
Authorities Are Still Asking the Public for Help
Anyone with information about Nancy’s disappearance has been asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI.
Investigators have also asked people who receive suspicious communications about the case to report them rather than responding on their own.
For now, the disappearance remains unresolved.
The latest suspected ransom message did not change that.
It became another item investigators had to evaluate in a case already marked by uncertainty, previous ransom claims, and a family still waiting for definitive answers about what happened to Nancy Guthrie.
