Investigators searching for Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy, are examining a possible new ransom note, almost eight months after the 84-year-old disappeared from her Arizona home.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed on September 28 that the joint task force working with the FBI had been alerted to the message. Its authenticity has not been established.
Authorities said they were "working to determine credibility" and examining social media comments connected to the alleged note. The update does not confirm Nancy's whereabouts or provide verified information about her condition.
© WireImageWhat is known about the possible new note?
The development followed online claims that someone described as Nancy's friend had received a demand for payment in bitcoin.
Those claims included an assertion that Nancy was alive in Mexico. However, investigators have not publicly verified that account, and it should not be treated as evidence that she has been located.
The confirmed development is that the task force is assessing the communication. No arrest in connection with Nancy's disappearance was announced alongside the update.
© Getty ImagesWhen did Nancy Guthrie disappear?
Nancy was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson on the evening of January 31, according to the FBI. Her family had brought her home after dinner, with investigators placing her return at approximately 9:48pm. She was reported missing the following day, February 1.
Authorities believe she was taken against her will. Her disappearance became the subject of a major search involving local investigators and federal agents.
Concern for Nancy was heightened by her medical needs. The FBI describes her as a vulnerable adult who has difficulty walking, uses a pacemaker and requires daily medication for a heart condition.
The overnight timeline and surveillance footage
Investigators identified several events during the early hours of February 1 that helped establish a timeline. Nancy's doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47am, according to the sheriff's account. At 2:28am, the app connected to her pacemaker lost its connection to her phone.
Relatives arrived at the property later that morning and discovered she was missing. A 911 call followed at 12:03pm.
The FBI subsequently released recovered surveillance footage showing an armed individual apparently interfering with the camera at Nancy's front door. The agency has asked the public for help identifying the person.
The footage became one of the most significant publicly released pieces of evidence in the investigation. Separately, authorities said blood found on Nancy's front porch belonged to her.
© Getty ImagesWhy the ransom messages require careful scrutiny
Messages claiming to contain information about Nancy have complicated the investigation from its earliest days. In July, authorities released redacted versions of two communications sent after her disappearance, hoping their language might help identify the writer. The first demanded money, while the second claimed Nancy had died.
Those claims did not establish what happened to her. Publishing the messages was an investigative step, rather than confirmation that their contents were true.
The latest possible note must likewise be assessed before any conclusions can be drawn. A demand for money, or a claim about Nancy's location, is not in itself proof that the sender has knowledge of her disappearance.
A family still waiting for answers
Savannah and her siblings have repeatedly appealed for information about their mother, using public messages to keep attention on the search.
In a July social media appeal, Savannah urged anyone able to help to tell the family where to look. Her message described the continuing pain of living without answers and asked those with information to come forward.
Investigators have also addressed speculation surrounding the family. In February, Sheriff Chris Nanos said Nancy's relatives, including her children and their spouses, had been cleared as possible suspects and had cooperated with the investigation.
The FBI's published appeal lists a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy's location and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Anyone with relevant information can contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip through the FBI's official website
