Ransom Note Claims Nancy Guthrie Is ‘Safe but Scared’ as FBI Races Against Deadlines [WATCH]

Authorities are investigating a chilling ransom note tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, as federal and local law enforcement work to determine the credibility of multiple communications sent to media outlets demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin, as reported by The New York Post.

According to a note sent to TMZ, the individuals claiming responsibility for Guthrie’s disappearance stated that she is “safe but scared” and fully aware of the demands being made for her return.

The note was delivered to the outlet two days after Guthrie was reported missing over the weekend from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Savannah Guthrie tells her mother’s kidnappers: “We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.”

The “Today” anchor fought back tears in an emotional video post: https://t.co/Is56t8x0pV pic.twitter.com/xOlv6kJCxu

— Variety (@Variety) February 5, 2026

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

TMZ founder Harvey Levin discussed the note during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” late Thursday.

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

“I will say the letter begins by saying she is safe but scared, and they go on to say she knows exactly what the demand is,” Levin told host Sean Hannity.

Levin said the note demanded millions in bitcoin and warned of “consequential” repercussions if the demands were not met.

“They are, through us, telling the family exactly what they are demanding, and they are saying that Nancy is aware of it,” Levin said.

“They are also saying … that this will be their only communication and they are done communicating and negotiating — here’s the deal and that’s it.”

Levin added that the note suggested urgency and pressure on investigators.

“As the clock ticks, that’s one of the reasons the FBI and other authorities have gotten desperate here,” he said.

Without detailing specifics, Levin said information contained in the note convinced him the sender had direct knowledge of the alleged abduction.

.@HarveyLevinTMZ says a ransom note obtained by TMZ claims Nancy is “safe but scared,” sets a hard deadline, cuts off negotiations, and may point to someone operating near Tucson:

“I will say the letter begins by saying she is safe but scared, and they go on to say she knows… pic.twitter.com/lTsUznR4o6

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) February 6, 2026

He said the note referenced Guthrie’s Apple Watch and a damaged floodlight at her million-dollar home — details that had not yet been made public at the time the note was received.

“That was what really put my antenna up, and we immediately called the sheriff,” Levin told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

“They do mention an Apple Watch, as the FBI said, and they do mention the floodlight, the damaged floodlight,” Levin said.

“There is something else, and it is the placement of the Apple Watch, which has not come out. If that placement is accurate, I’m sure that is something that puts this letter on the FBI radar.”

Investigators have confirmed they are taking the note seriously, along with several other communications sent to different media outlets. It remains unclear whether all the notes contain identical information.

Heith Janke, the FBI chief in Phoenix, said some of the notes included a demand for money with a Thursday evening deadline, followed by a second deadline set for Monday if the initial demand was not met.

A separate note emailed to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson on Monday also raised alarms. Anchor Mary Coleman told CNN that the message included details only the abductor would likely know.

“When we saw some of those details, it was clear after a couple of sentences that this might not be a hoax,” Coleman said.

The developments come after Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings released public messages pleading for their mother’s safe return, saying they were willing to communicate but wanted proof she was still alive.

Authorities said Thursday that no suspects or persons of interest have been identified.

“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference.

Nanos said investigators have not ruled out that Guthrie was targeted, though it remains unclear whether her daughter’s national television profile played a role.

Investigators said Guthrie was last seen Saturday night after family members dropped her off at her home following dinner. About four hours later, shortly before 2 a.m. On Sunday, the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected.

At 2:28 a.m., the app connected to Guthrie’s pacemaker was disconnected from her phone, according to the sheriff.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.