TUCSON, Ariz. — The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie took a chilling turn on Friday, February 6, 2026, as a local television station reported receiving a new message from a sender claiming to have information regarding her whereabouts. KOLD 13 News, a CNN affiliate in Tucson, confirmed the receipt of the communication just as a critical ransom deadline looms.
A Second Message Surfaces
The new communication arrived via the station’s online tip portal at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time. According to KOLD 13 anchor Mary Coleman, the message appears to be a direct response to recent emotional pleas made by the Guthrie family. Earlier this week, Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie and her brother, Camron, released video messages begging for “proof of life” and asking for a direct line of communication with their mother’s captors.
While the first note received by the station on Monday was classified by the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department as a formal ransom demand, officials are more cautious regarding this second contact.
“The message contains sensitive information but, unlike the first, does not include any specific deadlines,” Coleman stated in an interview with CNN. “It seems the new note was written by the same person or group who sent the initial message received by TMZ and our newsroom earlier this week.”
The Investigation So Far
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of Saturday, January 31, when family members dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills after a dinner together. She was reported missing the following morning after failing to appear at her church.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has described the case as an “active crime scene,” citing evidence of forced entry and a small amount of blood found on the porch of the residence. Technical data has provided a narrow window for the abduction:
- 1:47 a.m. Sunday: The home’s doorbell camera was disconnected.
- 2:12 a.m. Sunday: Motion was detected by home software, though no video was captured.
- 2:28 a.m. Sunday: Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnected from her smartphone.
The FBI has since joined the search, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.
The “Imposter” Threat
The investigation has been complicated by a wave of misinformation and opportunistic “imposter” demands. Earlier this week, a California man was arrested for sending fraudulent ransom texts to the Guthrie family demanding bitcoin.
However, authorities are treating the notes sent to KOLD and TMZ with greater seriousness. The initial notes reportedly contained specific, non-public details about the interior of Guthrie’s home and what she was wearing at the time of her disappearance. The first of two deadlines set in those notes passed Thursday evening; the second, which officials describe as “more serious,” is set for Monday, February 9.
A Family in Crisis
Savannah Guthrie, who grew up in Tucson and previously worked at the local station KVOA, has withdrawn from her planned coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina to remain with her family. In a social media post, she described her mother as a “woman of deep conviction” and asked the public to “raise your prayers with us.”
Sheriff Nanos has emphasized the urgency of the search, noting that Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and requires daily medication for heart issues and high blood pressure. “The clock is literally ticking,” Nanos said. “Without those meds, this could be fatal.”
Digital forensics teams are currently working to trace the IP address of the latest message. While the sender reportedly used a secure server to mask their location, investigators noted that the message originated from a different IP than the Monday note, suggesting a sophisticated attempt to evade detection.
As the community holds its breath, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has reiterated that it is vetting every lead. “The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie,” the department said in a statement. “Investigators are actively inspecting the information for its authenticity.”
Sources and Links
- Fox News: Nancy Guthrie’s home swept again as authorities investigate new message
- TMZ: Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping: Arizona News Station Receives New Message
- CBS News: Sheriff says ransom note being investigated in disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
- Sky News: NBC host Savannah Guthrie asks for ‘proof of life’ after mother’s kidnapping
- Associated Press via K-LOVE: 2 Media Outlets Receive ‘Ransom’ Notes For Release Of Nancy Guthrie
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