Kidnapper notes claim Nancy Guthrie died after ransom demand, authorities say

Law enforcement officials briefed by CNN said a second note sent to media outlets regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, claims she died shortly after the kidnapping. The note follows an earlier communication that demanded a multi-million-dollar ransom and is believed by investigators to be a genuine message from the abductors.

According to sources, the kidnappers indicated in the second note that they did not intend to kill Nancy Guthrie but that she died soon after being taken. The contents of both notes were shared with CNN and a Tucson, Arizona television station, which agreed with law enforcement and the family to withhold publication until any further communications could be verified.

TMZ founder Harvey Levin later posted a video stating that claims he had received a ransom note apologizing to Savannah Guthrie and her family were inaccurate. Levin said the note he saw described Nancy Guthrie as “scared but OK” and made no reference to an apology or her death. He added that TMZ had been contacted by an individual offering information on the kidnappers for about $100,000, but the FBI never paid the request.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which has led the investigation since Guthrie’s disappearance about five months ago, told CNN the case remains active and ongoing and referred further questions about the ransom notes to the FBI. The Phoenix FBI has not responded to requests for comment.