Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is weighing in on the latest ransom notes making headlines in the ongoing search for Today coanchor Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie.
“I think the FBI has done a number of arrests for false or fake ransom notes,” Nanos shared during a Friday, June 27, appearance on Arizona radio station KVOI AM 1030. “It’s a shame that that happens, but I think we’re looking at another one of those today with what’s been reported. But we will let the FBI do their work.”
Nanos explained that it is a “good” thing people have “great interest” in the ongoing case, adding that public involvement can aid investigators. However, Nanos added that it “really gets abused” with people who are calling in “fake ransom notes.”
Nancy has been missing since February, when authorities believe she was taken against her will from her home in Arizona. Since her disappearance, several ransom notes have been sent to the matriarch’s family, various media outlets and — in some cases — made public. On Thursday, June 26, TMZ reported that an email allegedly claims there is video footage of the “main guy” who kidnapped Nancy from the day she reportedly died.
“I am not the idiot who recently called in a tip about her burial site in Mexico,” the letter reads, with the anonymous sender claiming two individuals took Nancy. “I have a phone stashed in a secure location guaranteeing both the information it stores and the safety of the phone. What it contains is my definition of delivering them on a silver platter, a short video of the main guy with Nancy the day that was probably her last, pictures of both involved, names and addresses and age.”
Earlier this month, a ransom note received by several news outlets claimed Nancy died and was “with nature.” Savannah, 54, spoke out about the speculation during the Tuesday, June 23, episode of Today.
“I love you guys, and I love this place, and this is unusual and unprecedented, to say the least, to be sitting here,” Savannah said. “I don’t have any comment on this story. I’m not involved in our coverage, but I can’t pretend I’m not here. Since I am, I just wanted to take the opportunity to ask people — really, to beg people — to come forward.”
She continued, “Somebody knows something. This is a news story today that is on your radar, because this is the life my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives and our extended families live, that our children live every day. We are in agony. We cannot be in peace.”
Savannah went on to issue a plea for viewers, encouraging them to come forward if they know information.
“This is a moment to tell you we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity,” Savannah said. “Please, if you’re watching. No matter how small, the reward is there. You can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her.”
































