Nearly five months after the mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, newly disclosed details from a ransom note have revealed a devastating claim: she died shortly after being taken from her Arizona home.

The second of two ransom notes sent to media outlets in the days following Guthrie's February 1 disappearance indicated that she had died, according to law enforcement sources cited by multiple news organizations . The note reportedly stated that the abductors did not intend to kill her, but that she succumbed shortly after the kidnapping .

The Ransom Notes and Investigation

The first ransom note, sent just days after Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills outside Tucson, demanded millions of dollars in bitcoin for her safe return . The initial communication provided specific details about her home, bedroom, and the surrounding property, leading investigators to believe it was authentic .

A second note arrived on February 6 with a distinctly different tone. According to reports, it contained no ransom demand but instead apologized to the family and claimed Nancy Guthrie had died accidentally and was "buried with nature now" . Both notes were sent from the same electronic source, and investigators believe they were legitimate communications from whoever took Guthrie .

CNN and its Tucson affiliate KOLD-TV received both notes but agreed to law enforcement and family requests to withhold the contents publicly . The decision was made to allow investigators to authenticate any future communications with the kidnappers and to prevent the public from losing interest in the case, which could have reduced the flow of tips .

The Family's Response and Ongoing Agony

On February 7, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, released an emotional video addressing the kidnappers directly. "We received your message, and we understand," Savannah said, flanked by her brother and sister. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace" . She emphasized that the family was willing to pay the ransom .

In the months since, the Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information, in addition to the FBI's $100,000 pledge . Savannah Guthrie stepped away from her "Today" show hosting duties for more than two months before returning in early April .

Where the Case Stands Today

Authorities have not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the ransom notes, and the Pima County Sheriff's Department has declined to comment on their contents, stating only that the investigation remains "active and ongoing" . The FBI has also declined to comment, citing the active nature of the case .

Investigators found blood near Guthrie's front doorstep and released surveillance footage showing a masked man carrying a handgun on her porch the night of her disappearance . Law enforcement has reviewed thousands of hours of video from the Tucson area and continues to analyze DNA evidence found at the home, a process that can take months .

Despite extensive searches by volunteers and law enforcement across the desert terrain near the Arizona-Mexico border, no trace of Nancy Guthrie has been found . No suspects have been named, and authorities have not identified the masked man seen in the doorbell camera footage .

A Renewed Plea for Help

During a June 23 taping of the "Today" show, an emotional Savannah Guthrie addressed viewers directly after NBC News aired a segment on the newly reported note details. "I don't have any comment on this story. I'm not involved in our coverage," she said, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of the situation. "But I can't pretend I'm not here, and since I am, I want to take the opportunity to ask people—really to beg people—to come forward. Somebody knows something" .

She added that her family remains "in agony" and cannot find peace while her mother remains missing . "We love our mom. We'll never stop looking for her," Guthrie said .

Investigators are hopeful that the widespread release of the second note's contents could reignite public interest and generate new tips in a case that has now stretched more than 20 weeks without resolution .