{"id":8346,"date":"2026-10-03T19:35:56","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/?p=8346"},"modified":"2026-10-03T19:36:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:36:06","slug":"nancy-guthrie-case-sheriff-says-new-ransom-note-is-not-credible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/?p=8346","title":{"rendered":"Nancy Guthrie Case: Sheriff Says New Ransom Note Is Not Credible"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Ransom Message in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Was Deemed Not Credible as Investigation Continues<\/h1>\n
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Authorities Said the Latest Text Was Reviewed by the Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department and FBI Task Force, While Earlier Ransom Claims Remain Part of the Ongoing Case<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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The new message initially drew attention because of the long-running mystery surrounding Nancy\u2019s disappearance and the previous ransom claims that had surfaced during the investigation.<\/p>\n

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But after examining the latest communication, authorities said it was not credible.<\/p>\n

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The case remains open, and no one has been arrested.<\/p>\n

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Authorities Learned About the Message in Late September<\/h2>\n

On Monday, September 28, the Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department said investigators had recently become aware of a new possible ransom message tied to Nancy\u2019s case.<\/p>\n

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The department and the FBI task force working alongside it began reviewing the material.<\/p>\n

Authorities also said they were monitoring social media comments related to the message.<\/p>\n

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At that point, investigators had not yet determined whether the communication was genuine.<\/p>\n

The Message Was Later Determined to Be Not Credible<\/h2>\n

By Tuesday, the sheriff\u2019s department had completed additional review.<\/p>\n

Authorities said the message was not credible.<\/p>\n

Officials described it as a text message rather than a traditional written ransom note.<\/p>\n

The development prompted another warning about people potentially attempting to take advantage of a high-profile missing-person investigation.<\/p>\n

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Investigators Warned About Possible Scams<\/h2>\n

Authorities cautioned that scammers may try to exploit concern surrounding Nancy\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n

They urged people who receive texts or other communications claiming to contain information about her to contact law enforcement.<\/p>\n

They also warned recipients not to send money.<\/p>\n

People were advised not to provide personal information to anyone making unverified claims about the case.<\/p>\n

This Was Not the First Ransom Claim Connected to the Case<\/h2>\n
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Several alleged ransom messages have appeared since Nancy disappeared.<\/p>\n

Earlier claims became a significant part of the investigation because some of the messages referenced details connected to her home.<\/p>\n

On July 31, authorities publicly released two messages that had been sent to a Tucson television station during the first days after Nancy vanished.<\/p>\n

Investigators hoped releasing the wording might help someone recognize the writer or remember something relevant.<\/p>\n

One Earlier Message Demanded Millions in Bitcoin<\/h2>\n
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The first of the previously released messages demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin.<\/p>\n

It also referred to a white smartwatch lying on the floor near the foot of Nancy\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

The message additionally mentioned a damaged backyard floodlight.<\/p>\n

Those details drew attention because they appeared connected to circumstances surrounding Nancy\u2019s home after her disappearance.<\/p>\n

A Second Message Made a Much Darker Claim<\/h2>\n

The second communication released by investigators claimed Nancy had died shortly after being taken.<\/p>\n

It stated that she was \u201cburied in nature now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The supplied account does not establish that this claim was independently confirmed.<\/p>\n

It remained part of the material investigators were examining rather than proof of what had happened to Nancy.<\/p>\n

Investigators Hoped Someone Might Recognize the Writing<\/h2>\n

Sheriff Chris Nanos later explained why authorities decided to release information from the earlier messages.<\/p>\n

In an August 1 video, he said:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just saw what was being said, and we felt like we needed to put something out that\u2019s really accurate, and this was the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

The Investigation Began After Nancy Failed to Arrive at a Friend\u2019s Home<\/h2>\n

Nancy was last seen on the night of January 31.<\/p>\n

Her family had dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson.<\/p>\n

According to the supplied timeline, her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m.<\/p>\n

It closed about two minutes later.<\/p>\n

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Nothing about that moment immediately signaled the disappearance that would soon follow.<\/p>\n

She Was Reported Missing the Next Day<\/h2>\n

On February 1, Nancy was expected to go to a friend\u2019s house to watch a virtual church service.<\/p>\n

She never arrived.<\/p>\n

That raised concern among the people who knew her.<\/p>\n

Family members went to her home around midday to check on her.<\/p>\n

They then called 911.<\/p>\n

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Authorities Believe She Was Taken From Her Home<\/h2>\n

Investigators believe Nancy was taken from the residence during the early hours of February 1.<\/p>\n

The supplied account does not identify a suspect or describe anyone as having been formally charged in connection with her disappearance.<\/p>\n

The investigation has remained active for months.<\/p>\n

Despite the publicity surrounding the case and the alleged ransom communications, no arrest has been made.<\/p>\n

The Long Timeline Has Deepened the Family\u2019s Uncertainty<\/h2>\n

Nearly eight months had passed by the time the latest possible ransom text came to investigators\u2019 attention.<\/p>\n

Each new communication therefore carried the possibility of providing information in a case that had remained unresolved for a prolonged period.<\/p>\n

At the same time, investigators had to determine whether each message was authentic or simply another attempt to exploit the case.<\/p>\n

The latest message was ultimately placed in the second category.<\/p>\n

The New Message Added Another Layer of Confusion<\/h2>\n

When authorities first acknowledged the communication on September 28, it was still under review.<\/p>\n

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That meant investigators could not immediately dismiss it.<\/p>\n

They examined both the message itself and the surrounding online discussion.<\/p>\n

By the following day, the sheriff\u2019s department said it was not credible.<\/p>\n

The quick clarification helped separate the latest rumor from information investigators considered useful.<\/p>\n

Scams Can Complicate Missing-Person Investigations<\/h2>\n

False messages can create several problems in a case like this.<\/p>\n

They can distract investigators from genuine leads.<\/p>\n

They can cause additional distress for families already living with uncertainty.<\/p>\n

They can also create opportunities for people to demand money or personal information from those desperate for answers.<\/p>\n

That is why authorities specifically warned the public not to respond financially to unverified communications.<\/p>\n

People Were Asked to Preserve and Report Suspicious Messages<\/h2>\n

Rather than engaging with anyone who claims to know something about Nancy, authorities want such communications reported directly.<\/p>\n

A suspicious text may still be useful to investigators even if the sender turns out to be a scammer.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement can review its origin, wording, timing, and any other details connected to it.<\/p>\n

That is a safer approach than responding independently.<\/p>\n

The Earlier Messages Remain Important to the Timeline<\/h2>\n

The two messages released in July are distinct from the newer text that was later deemed not credible.<\/p>\n

The earlier notes were received during the first days after Nancy disappeared.<\/p>\n

One sought a large bitcoin payment.<\/p>\n

The other claimed she had died.<\/p>\n

Investigators released them publicly months later in hopes that someone might recognize something in their language or content.<\/p>\n

The Mention of Nancy\u2019s Home Drew Particular Attention<\/h2>\n

The first ransom message referenced a white smartwatch near the foot of Nancy\u2019s bed.<\/p>\n

It also mentioned a destroyed floodlight in the backyard.<\/p>\n

Those details made the communication especially notable to investigators.<\/p>\n

But the supplied account does not establish that every claim in that message was verified.<\/p>\n

Authorities treated it as evidence to examine rather than as a definitive account of what happened.<\/p>\n

No Confirmed Explanation Has Emerged<\/h2>\n

Despite the different messages, there has been no publicly established explanation for Nancy\u2019s disappearance in the supplied account.<\/p>\n

There is no identified arrested suspect.<\/p>\n

There is no confirmed ransom outcome.<\/p>\n

And there is no publicly established resolution to the case.<\/p>\n

The uncertainty is one of the reasons each alleged new communication attracts attention.<\/p>\n

Savannah Guthrie Has Continued Asking for Answers<\/h2>\n

Savannah, 54, has repeatedly spoken publicly about her mother\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n

Her appeals have appeared both on air and online.<\/p>\n

As the months passed without a resolution, those messages became increasingly emotional.<\/p>\n

The family has continued urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.<\/p>\n

She Spoke About Wanting a Proper Goodbye<\/h2>\n

During the September 15 broadcast of Today, Savannah said the family wanted to give her mother a proper goodbye.<\/p>\n

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The remark reflected how difficult the prolonged uncertainty had become.<\/p>\n

Without clear answers about what happened to Nancy, the family remained caught between continuing hope and confronting painful possibilities.<\/p>\n

An Earlier Instagram Message Described the Family\u2019s Grief<\/h2>\n

On August 1, after the earlier ransom notes became public, Savannah shared another message online.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

She also described the family\u2019s hearts as being in ruins.<\/p>\n

Her message included another plea for information.<\/p>\n

The Family Has Emphasized That People Can Speak Anonymously<\/h2>\n

Savannah urged anyone who knew something to come forward.<\/p>\n

She said the reward remained available.<\/p>\n

She also stressed that a person could provide information anonymously.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Case Has Generated Both Leads and False Claims<\/h2>\n

High-profile investigations often attract large amounts of attention.<\/p>\n

That attention can produce legitimate tips.<\/p>\n

It can also generate rumors, speculation, and false communications.<\/p>\n

Investigators must examine each potential lead while avoiding assumptions about its credibility.<\/p>\n

The September ransom text illustrates that process.<\/p>\n

The New Text Was Examined Rather Than Immediately Dismissed<\/h2>\n

When investigators first learned about it, they did not publicly declare it authentic.<\/p>\n

They reviewed it.<\/p>\n

They monitored discussion surrounding it.<\/p>\n

They evaluated whether it could be connected to the disappearance.<\/p>\n

Only after that review did the sheriff\u2019s department say the message was not credible.<\/p>\n

Authorities Want the Public to Be Careful<\/h2>\n

The warning following the false message was straightforward.<\/p>\n

Do not send money to someone who claims to have information about Nancy.<\/p>\n

Do not provide personal details.<\/p>\n

Do not assume a text message is genuine simply because it mentions the case.<\/p>\n

Report suspicious communications to law enforcement instead.<\/p>\n

Nancy\u2019s Disappearance Remains Unsolved<\/h2>\n

The central question remains unanswered.<\/p>\n

Nancy was last seen after returning to her Catalina Foothills home on January 31.<\/p>\n

She did not arrive at a friend\u2019s home the following morning.<\/p>\n

Her family went to check on her and contacted authorities.<\/p>\n

Investigators believe she was taken from the residence in the early hours of February 1.<\/p>\n

Nearly eight months later, there was still no arrest.<\/p>\n

Every New Claim Must Be Carefully Verified<\/h2>\n

The latest ransom text demonstrates why caution is necessary.<\/p>\n

A message can appear alarming.<\/p>\n

It can spread rapidly on social media.<\/p>\n

It can sound as though it contains a major breakthrough.<\/p>\n

But unless investigators determine that it is credible, it should not be treated as proof of anything.<\/p>\n

The Family Continues Waiting for Answers<\/h2>\n

For Savannah and the rest of Nancy\u2019s family, the passage of time has not produced the resolution they have repeatedly sought.<\/p>\n

They have continued asking people to come forward.<\/p>\n

They have continued hoping that someone remembers something.<\/p>\n

And investigators have continued reviewing information connected to the case.<\/p>\n

The September message did not provide the breakthrough many may have hoped for.<\/p>\n

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The Investigation Remains Open<\/h2>\n

No one has been arrested in connection with Nancy Guthrie\u2019s disappearance.<\/p>\n

The Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department and the FBI task force continue working the case.<\/p>\n

Authorities remain interested in information that could help clarify what happened after Nancy returned home on the night of January 31.<\/p>\n

The newer ransom message has now been ruled not credible, but the search for reliable information continues.<\/p>\n

Authorities Are Still Asking the Public for Help<\/h2>\n

Anyone with information about Nancy\u2019s disappearance has been asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Office or the FBI.<\/p>\n

Investigators have also asked people who receive suspicious communications about the case to report them rather than responding on their own.<\/p>\n

For now, the disappearance remains unresolved.<\/p>\n

The latest suspected ransom message did not change that.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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New Ransom Message in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Was Deemed Not Credible as Investigation Continues   Discover more Magazine subscriptions online Animal care products Breaking news alerts   Authorities Said the … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,21,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-celebrity","category-new","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8346"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8348,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions\/8348"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/realstoryus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}