鈥淭oday鈥� show host Savannah Guthrie on Saturday said on social media that her family was 鈥渄esperate鈥� and 鈥渂egging for help鈥� in the disappearance of her mother, a day after authorities released including one saying that she had died.
Authorities released an early note in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, hoping that someone will recognize the writing style. A second note said Guthrie died shortly after she was kidnapped and 鈥渋s buried in nature now.鈥� Both notes initially were sent to a Tucson television station days after Guthrie went missing from her home outside
Desperate plea
鈥淲e are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward. Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes,鈥� Guthrie wrote on her Instagram account, alongside a photo of her mother.
鈥淪omeone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual – perhaps with someone they deeply love,” she wrote. “Perhaps they are afraid to come forward. Perhaps they are conflicted. Perhaps they are angry or upset for being in this situation. There is a way out – to tell what you know.鈥�
Guthrie went on to say they 鈥渨anted to find out what happened to her, so that we can give her the dignity of a proper goodbye – a celebration of her remarkable life that she so deserves.鈥�
Missing since February
Saturday is the six-month mark since Guthrie disappeared. No suspects have been arrested. The investigation has been dogged by such as how many people are believed to have taken part in her abduction and whether she was taken by someone who knew her.
The FBI in Washington did not respond to questions about the ransom notes, including whether both messages sent to the Tucson station have been deemed legitimate.
In releasing the notes, the Pima County Sheriff鈥檚 Department said 鈥渨e believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes鈥� writer.鈥�
Ransom notes released
The , sent Feb. 2, said Guthrie was safe but scared and would be released unharmed once her captors received $4 million in cryptocurrency, with the ransom amount increasing if the first demand was not met. It said Guthrie would be released within 12 hours if the payment was received. It also included a threat to kill her if the ransom wasn鈥檛 paid.
鈥淵our mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,鈥� the first note read. 鈥淚t is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible.鈥�
The was sent Feb. 6 and said Guthrie died shortly after she was taken. 鈥淪he is buried in nature now,鈥� it said. 鈥淣othing you could have done could have changed the outcome.鈥� The note ended with an apology: 鈥淲e are truly sorry.鈥�
The sheriff鈥檚 department said the notes reveal a distinctive pattern of word choices and provide insight into the writer鈥檚 mindset. The agency said someone who knows the notes鈥� writer may recognize the patterns.
Authorities similarly used a suspect鈥檚 own writings as a tool to apprehend , branded the 鈥淯nabomber鈥� by the FBI. Kaczynski, who killed three people and injured 23 others with mail bombs over a 17-year span, pressured The Washington Post, in conjunction with The New York Times, to publish his 35,000-word manifesto in 1995.
Signs of preparations
The sheriff鈥檚 office also said Friday that two videos recovered from Guthrie鈥檚 doorbell camera might be from two separate days and indicate an unidentified male prepared ahead of when Guthrie was taken. Authorities are seeking information on anyone who was behaving differently, changed their physical appearance, suddenly left the Tucson area, or had a noticeable or unexplained interest or disinterest in the case.
鈥淚nvestigators continue to pursue every available technological and investigative lead,鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 office said. 鈥淗owever, community members remain a vital resource as we seek to provide answers for Nancy鈥檚 family.鈥�
The FBI had released surveillance videos of a masked person who authorities said appeared to tamper with a camera on Nancy Guthrie鈥檚 front porch and block it with a plant. They described the person as a male about 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall.
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