The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has taken a dramatic and heartbreaking new direction. In a major development, authorities have reportedly conducted handwriting analysis on the alleged ransom note(s) received in connection with the case—and the results have revealed inconsistencies that police say point directly to Nancy Guthrie’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.

This revelation has shifted the entire trajectory of the investigation, moving it from a broad search for potential abductors to intense scrutiny of someone within the family circle. The news has left the public stunned and deepened the tragedy for a family already enduring unimaginable grief.

Background of the Ransom Notes

Since early February 2026, multiple media outlets—including TMZ and Tucson television station KOLD—reported receiving purported ransom demands shortly after Nancy’s disappearance became public. The notes allegedly demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin, provided a specific cryptocurrency wallet address, included deadlines, and contained threats of harm if payment was not made.

What made these communications particularly disturbing was their specificity: they described details about Nancy’s clothing on the night she vanished (January 31, 2026), elements of her home’s interior (furnishings, layout), and other particulars that investigators said only someone with direct access to the residence or the events of that night would know. Sheriff Chris Nanos of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed awareness of the notes, stating they were being treated seriously and forwarded to the FBI for analysis. At least one note was shared with Savannah Guthrie herself for verification.

Initially, authorities remained cautious, noting that the authenticity of the notes was under review and that they could represent either a genuine demand or an attempt to mislead the investigation.

The Handwriting Breakthrough

In the latest update, law enforcement sources indicate that forensic handwriting experts examined the physical or scanned versions of the ransom communication(s). The analysis reportedly identified Tommaso Cioni’s handwriting—or at minimum showed strong similarities—in key characteristics of the note.

More critically, police have identified inconsistencies between the content of the ransom demand and the established facts of the case. These discrepancies are said to further implicate Cioni, as they appear to reflect knowledge only someone closely connected to the family—and potentially involved in the events—would possess or mistakenly include.

While exact details of the inconsistencies remain closely guarded (to protect the integrity of the investigation), sources suggest they involve:

Timing or sequence of events that do not align with verified evidence (such as security system gaps, pacemaker data, or witness accounts).
Specific references to Nancy’s health or condition that could only come from intimate family knowledge.
Phrasing or stylistic elements that match known samples of Cioni’s writing.

This development has led investigators to reclassify the focus of the probe significantly. No arrests have been announced as of the latest reports, but the handwriting findings and noted inconsistencies have reportedly elevated Tommaso Cioni to the status of a primary person of interest.

Who Is Tommaso Cioni?

Tommaso Cioni, 50, is married to Annie Guthrie, Nancy’s oldest daughter and Savannah’s older sister. The couple resides in the Tucson area. Cioni is a sixth-grade science teacher (with professional history linked to educational institutions such as Basis Oro Valley School) and has been described in family-related social media posts as a supportive partner and “great manifester.”

Cioni and Annie were among the last people known to have seen Nancy alive. Reports confirm that Nancy had dinner with Annie on the evening of January 31, 2026, and was dropped off at her Catalina Foothills home around 9:30–9:45 p.m. It remains unclear whether Cioni was present at the dinner, but he has been part of the family’s inner circle during the crisis.

Earlier in the investigation, journalist Ashleigh Banfield (on her Drop Dead Serious podcast) cited a law enforcement source claiming Cioni was being “looked at heavily” and possibly a “prime suspect,” particularly in connection with the seizure of Annie Guthrie’s vehicle as evidence. At the time, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department pushed back strongly against speculation, stating no suspect or person of interest had been publicly identified and describing such reports as unverified.

The handwriting analysis now appears to have changed that landscape dramatically.

Current Status of the Investigation

Despite this major development:

No formal charges have been filed.
No official arrest has been announced.
Authorities continue to describe the case as active and ongoing, with the FBI heavily involved.
Extensive searches in the Catalina Foothills and surrounding desert areas persist, though emphasis has increasingly shifted toward forensic analysis, interviews, and digital evidence review.

Other key evidence remains central:

Blood droplets outside and inside the home.
Multiple distinct footprints suggesting more than one person was present.
Smashed or removed security cameras (including a missing Ring doorbell device).
An open back door and signs of forced entry.
Nancy’s pacemaker reportedly ceasing to sync around 2 a.m. on February 1.
Her personal items (phone, wallet, keys, medications, car) left behind.

Nancy’s serious health conditions—including a pacemaker, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues—make her survival without medication increasingly urgent.

Family and Public Impact

Savannah Guthrie has remained off-air, stepping away from Today show duties (including Winter Olympics coverage) to support her family. She has publicly expressed heartbreak and called for continued prayers. Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni have been seen appearing visibly distressed in recent public sightings, though they have largely avoided media.

The emergence of handwriting evidence implicating a family member has added an excruciating layer of pain to an already devastating case. The shift from a presumed external abduction to potential involvement by someone close to Nancy has left observers reeling.

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. They have also reiterated warnings against spreading unverified information online, as it can interfere with the investigation.

As this heartbreaking chapter unfolds, the hope remains that these latest revelations—however painful—will lead to answers and, above all, to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.