TMZ Shares Unverified Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note: ‘Don’t Know’ If It’s Legit

TMZ said they got what appears to be a ransom note for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing on Sunday morning after she didn’t show up for church. The note, which TMZ openly said it hasn’t been able to verify, had specific requests in it, including for certain amounts of money.

“There’s a dollar demand or else in there,” TMZ founder Harvey Levin said in a video posted on Facebook. The letter was emailed to the outlet and included details about what Nancy was wearing and damage to the house.

“They’re clearly saying to verify we know what we’re talking about here,” TMZ co-executive producer Charles Latibeaudiere said in a Facebook video.

During the broadcast, he and Levin said that the note is “unverified,” adding, “we don’t know if this is legit.” TMZ sent the letter to law enforcement.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media that they were aware of reports of a ransom note, or notes. They said they’re taking “all tips and leads very seriously” and any information they get goes directly to detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.

When pushed at Tuesday’s briefing about a ransom note, a reporter asked if the sheriff’s comments meant that a ransom note “has come in.”

“We’re following all leads,” Nanos replied. “That’s all I can tell you. We get we’ve got hundreds of leads… But, yeah, I’m not going to get into all that.”

Who is Nancy Guthrie and When Did She Go Missing?

Nancy, 84, is a longtime resident of the Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson, Arizona. She has now been missing for several days as Arizona authorities escalate their investigation and publicly warn that the window to save her “may be closing.” The case—marked by what officials describe as “very concerning” evidence—is being pursued as a likely abduction.

Guthrie, whose daughter Savannah co-anchors NBC’s Today morning show, was last seen late Saturday night at her Tucson‑area home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue. Her family reported her missing around noon on Sunday after a church member called to say she hadn’t arrived for services, prompting loved ones to rush to her house. When they arrived, they searched the home before contacting law enforcement, who immediately noted suspicious circumstances. After processing the home, investigators concluded they had “in fact, a crime scene” and believe Nancy “did not leave on her own.”

Australian-born broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie, right, poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break while hosting NBC’s “…Read More | Don Arnold/WireImage/Getty Images

Search teams combed the surrounding area with drones, heat sensors and dogs, while investigators gathered potential DNA from inside the home. Authorities noted Nancy’s limited mobility and critical need for daily medication, warning it could be fatal if she is without it for more than 24 hours. “It is a race against time, and I hope that window hasn’t closed,” Nanos told Today.

Despite a flood of public tips, officials have yet to identify a suspect or motive. Nanos said items found at the residence suggest Nancy was taken “against her will” and that the scene revealed “things … concerning to us.” The department is analyzing DNA samples, reviewing home‑surveillance footage and assessing Nancy’s electronic devices for clues.

Nancy Guthrie News Conference: Latest Updates on the Search

At a series of briefings, Nanos laid out the latest developments. While Nanos did not detail the physical evidence found, he said the scene contained multiple indicators of foul play and underscored that this is no longer a standard missing‑person search but a criminal investigation.

Authorities also confirmed they have Nancy’s cellphone and are analyzing data that could narrow down the timeline of the abduction. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses, urging neighbors to check their own cameras even if they do not face the Guthrie property. The FBI is assisting in evaluating the growing volume of leads, as officials say they are now receiving “hundreds” of tips from the public. Nanos stressed that the department is prioritizing each one while coordinating directly with federal partners.

During the briefing, officials reiterated the urgency of the situation due to Nancy’s medical vulnerability.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest, urging residents to check cameras and submit anything unusual. It continues to reiterate that Nancy, while physically limited, is mentally sharp and could not have simply wandered off.

Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer wrote on X that she considers the case “very unusual,” pointing to the lack of ransom demand and the improbability of abductors targeting an elderly woman, with no clear motive. “If this was totally random, why take Nancy Guthrie?” she wrote, saying that law enforcement would ordinarily expect contact if the abduction were financially motivated.

Coffindaffer also questioned who might benefit if Nancy were harmed and emphasized that if foul play is involved, investigators typically begin with close contacts before expanding outward. She echoed the sheriff’s plea for community vigilance, stressing that public tips may be crucial.

Savannah, who has stepped away from the Today show during the crisis, publicly thanked supporters and urged continued prayers for her mother’s safe return. “We believe in prayer… in voices raised in unison… in hope,” she wrote on social media, describing Nancy as “a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant.”

Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah’s Today co-host and longtime friend, also spoke on the broadcast, emphasizing Nancy’s urgent medical needs and joining the family’s call for nationwide awareness.

Authorities continue stressing that even the smallest piece of information—a camera clip, a sighting, an atypical sound—could shift the investigation. With DNA analysis underway and additional updates expected, the community remains on high alert as investigators push forward.

Anyone with information is urged to contact 88‑CRIME or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.