Letters Sent to Nancy Guthrie's Family After Her Disappearance Are Released

Two ransom notes purportedly sent by those who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie in Arizona earlier this year were released Friday, July 31, by local authorities hoping to generate new leads in the case.

The second note, sent Feb. 6 to a Tucson news outlet, states that Guthrie, 84, died shortly after she was taken.

"We believe it was heart related," the note says. "She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry."

The 84-year-old mother of "TODAY" co-host Savannah Guthrie went missing from her home near Tucson early Feb. 1. The FBI has said her disappearance is being investigated as a kidnapping for ransom.

The first note, sent on Feb. 2 to the same outlet, a CBS affiliate, stated that a white smartwatch was on the floor at the foot of her bed and that the flood light in the backyard had been destroyed.

That note demanded a payment of $4 million in bitcoin by Feb. 5.

It provided a deadline of 5 p.m. Feb. 9 and raised the ransom amount to $6 million if the payment was not immediately made. The note warned that Nancy Guthrie was aware that "her life is in your hands."

"Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you," the note states.

In a news release accompanying the notes, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Friday it was releasing the letters in an effort to generate new leads.

The notes reveal a "unique linguistic style" with distinctive word choice, syntax and phraseology, the department said, and provide "valuable insight into the person's mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time."

"The distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes' writer," the release says. "A friend, family member, coworker, classmate or acquaintance may recognize these patterns of expression and possess information that could help identify the individual responsible."

The release underscores the state of the investigation. Authorities do not have any suspects or leads of significance, so they're requesting the public's help.

The notes' release came days after Savannah made an emotional plea online to the person who may have taken her mother, urging them to "do the right thing" and "tell us where to look for her."

Anyone with information is urged to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The Guthrie family is also offering a $1 million reward for the return of her mother.