More than eight months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, investigators have evaluated and dismissed a newly reported possible ransom-related communication. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working jointly with the FBI on the Guthrie Task Force, confirmed that the message was not credible after a careful review.
On September 28, 2026, the task force announced it had recently been made aware of a new possible ransom note or text message connected to the investigation. Officials noted that they were also monitoring social media discussion about the communication and were examining the information to ᴀssess its legitimacy. The following day, the department issued an update stating that further review had determined the message lacked credibility.
Investigators emphasized that they will continue to examine any reported messages linked to the case and will investigate potential attempts at extortion. They also issued a public warning, urging people to remain vigilant because scammers may try to take advantage of the high-profile disappearance by sending unsolicited demands for money or personal details. Anyone who receives such a communication is advised to report it to law enforcement rather than respond or send funds.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, after her daughter Annie dropped her off at her residence sometime between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. She was reported missing the next day when she failed to appear for her usual church services. A subsequent search of the property revealed blood matching hers near the doorway, which led authorities to treat the case as a suspected abduction involving foul play. At 84 years old and dealing with limited mobility and a heart condition, her disappearance has carried particular urgency from the start.
Surveillance video captured an unidentified individual near the home around the time she vanished, but that person has never been publicly identified. In the months that followed, several communications claiming connection to the case surfaced. In August 2026, authorities publicly released the contents of two earlier notes in the hope that distinctive patterns of wording, sentence structure, and style might be recognized by someone familiar with the writer. Those earlier messages had included a demand for payment and a later claim that Nancy had died. The most recent reported message was evaluated separately and ruled out.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and the task force have repeatedly stated that the investigation remains active and ongoing. Detectives continue to review extensive video footage, DNA evidence, and digital records while following any leads that arise. A substantial combined reward, exceeding one million dollars, remains available for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the identification of those responsible.
As of early October 2026, more than eight months after she went missing, no major breakthroughs have been publicly announced. The careful handling of the latest reported message reflects the volume of information the task force continues to receive and the process used to separate credible leads from false or opportunistic claims. Family members, including Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s Today show, have continued to express their ongoing pain and determination to learn what happened to their mother.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or local tip lines. Callers may remain anonymous.
The ruling on the latest communication underscores both the challenges of a prolonged investigation and the continued commitment of authorities to pursue every potential lead, even as the case moves well into its ninth month without resolution.
Sources : New York Daily News
