The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has taken a new turn after a former Arizona reporter shared excerpts from a purported ransom note on a popular true crime podcast.
Briana Whitney, a former reporter for a Phoenix-based news outlet, joined "Crime Junkie" hosts to discuss the note and a "wrench attack" theory that emerged in May.
According to Whitney, the note begins with the message: "Hello Savannah, We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom, and once payment is received, she will be released unharmed. We will be holding her for a maximum of seven days."
The sender provided two deadlines with increased money demands the longer it took, and threatened to kill Guthrie if payment was not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m.
The note also includes details that may have only been available to investigators and the suspect at the time, including the location of Guthrie's Apple watch and details about the smashed floodlight in her backyard.
Whitney read from a purported second note, which claimed that the kidnappers had underestimated Guthrie's health and that she had died shortly after being taken.
The note reportedly included an apology at the end, and the sender claimed that it was in their best interest to complete the ransom as soon as possible.
Guthrie was taken from her Tucson home in the early morning hours of Feb. 1, and the only known suspect remains publicly unidentified — a masked intruder seen on Nest doorbell camera video.
The sum of rewards in the case is over $1.2 million, and anyone with information is asked to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip anonymously to Tucson's Crime Stoppers affiliate.
